A Strategy to Activate the Basic Science Education in Medical School / 한양의대학술지

The aim of this article is to identify roadblocks prohibiting effective education of medical students in the basic sciences and then propose strategies for designing and implementing a better curriculum in the basic sciences that remove the roadblocks thereby increasing the relevance to students' clinical experiences in medical training. Traditionally, the medical student experiences basic science education in a setting where there is little or no communication between the basic science and clinical science professors, where basic science content is given with very little clinical context, while clinical training does not enhance understanding of the scientific foundation for clinical practice. Herein, we re-address the purpose of basic science education proposing the concept of 'transfer' as a bridge to connect the basic and clinical science education. We also propose a continuing education program for staff development in the successful implementation of these proposals.

Teaching and Learning Communication Skills in Medical Education / 한국의학교육

The purpose of this study is to review communication skills education in medical education. This analysis looks at the reasons why communication skills education is difficult and how to design an effective curriculum for communication skills education. Problems in communication skills education are discussed, especially in relation to the complexity of the communication between patients and physicians, the changing of the communication model, and curriculum composition. Findings show that it is necessary to design a spiral curriculum for communication skills education, to harmonize theory and practice of communication, to encourage student participation, and to provide feedback to students. To educate communication skills, this paper concludes, professors in charge of communication skills education must seriously consider their teaching and evaluating methods and practice what they teach.

Effects of Case Type and Standardized Patient Gender on Student Performance in a Clinical Performance Examination / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of case type and gender of standardized patient on student performance in a clinical performance examination(CPX). METHODS: During 2005, an eight-station CPX was administered to fourth-year students from 4 medical schools. A total of 306 students, of which 206(67%) were male, participated in the exam. Station checklists, scored by the SPs, consisted of history taking(Hx), physical examination(PE), information sharing(IS), clinical courtesy(CC) and patient-physician interaction(PPI). A measurement of students' perceived difficulty was obtained through student questionnaires. The difference of CPX scores between male and female students were studied using Mann-Whitney's U. RESULTS: Across the gender-neutral cases, female students scored better in Hx in 2 cases. In PE, IS and CC, the only difference seen was with CC in 1 case(female students scored higher). In PPI, female students performed better than male students in all female SP cases and one male SP case, but, there was a significant student gender-SP gender interaction when averaging all cases. For the gender sensitive case, there was no significant difference in all checklist categories in the male case when student gender was considered. In the female case, female students performed better than male students only in PPI. Student questionnaires revealed that there was no significant difference in perceived difficulty between male and female students. RESULTS: The standardized patients' ratings in gender sensitive cases are not affected by the gender of standardized patients and students, except in PPI with a female case where female students performed better than male students.

Status of Clerkship Education and Its Evaluation in Korean Medical Schools / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to identify the status of clerkship education and its evaluation in Korea. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 943personnel in 23clinical departments of 41medical schools nationwide from April, 1 to April 10, 2004. We analyzed the 638 questionnaires that were collected from 39medical schools. RESULTS: The most frequently used methodologies for clerkship education were small group lecture(17.1%), observation of ambulatory care(15.7%), seminar(12.9%), observation and support of operation(12.4%), ward rounding(12.1%). The relative proportion of educational methodologies was varied according to the type of clinical departments. Most of the clinical clerkship activity was conducted in the university hospital. Also, the clerkship activities were educated by professors(57.8%), fellows(9.1%), residents(30.6%) and others(2.5%). The evaluation methods were written exam(21.8%), attendance(17.5%), report(14.0%), and oral exam(12.0%). In terms of evaluating items, acquirement of clinical knowledge has been mainly tested. However, students' ability to communicate, build human relationship, and clinical skills has been less frequently evaluated in most of medical schools. CONCLUSION: It is most likely that the current status of clerkship education and its evaluation in Korea is focused on the education and assessment of clinical knowledge. To improve this, the following areas need to be enriched: interaction between faculty and students, experience-based clerkship, effective feedback, time management, objectivity of evaluation, performance evaluation.

The Effects of Information Sharing between Students on Results of Clinical Performance Examination / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of information sharing between students on results of clinical performance examination (CPX). METHODS: 143 third-year students, who completed their core clinical clerkship, were randomly assigned to one day of a 3-day, 6 station CPX. Station checklists, scored by the SP(s), consisted of history taking, physical examination, information sharing, clinical courtesy and patient-physician interaction. We compared the CPX station scores, CPX domain scores, self assessment scores and GPA of the three groups tested on different days with ANOVA, and analyzed the differences in CPX scores, after controlling for GPA, with ANCOVA. The correlations among the CPX total and domain scores, self assessment and the GPA of the 3rd year students were calculated. Data regarding information sharing between students and self-assessment were obtained through student questionnaires. RESULTS: CPX total scores, self assessment scores and GPA of 3rd year students from day-2 were significantly higher than scores from day-1 or day-3. Checklist analysis showed that PE, CC and PPI scores were significantly higher on day-2, but Hx and IS scores were not significantly different. Results from questionnaires showed that 43% of students shared evaluation information. And CPX total scores had little correlation with self assessment scores. GPA of 3rd year students showed a similar pattern with the CPX totalscore. CONCLUSION: There is information sharing occurring between students during clinical performance examinations. Although there are significant differences in CPXscores for the treatment group, it seemed that CPX scores are not affected by information sharing between students. Reliability of information sharing from other students is low. The generalization of this study should be interpreted carefully.

The Pedagogical Validity for a Six Years Curriculum in Pharmacy Education / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the pedagogical validity for a the six-years curriculum in pharmacy education in Korea. METHODS: The focus group, composed of 5 specialists, analyzed the pedagogical validity for a six-years curriculum from the perspective of administrative policies of higher education, educational sociology, curriculum composition, and educational economy. In addition, 3 consultants advised on the main issues related to the reformation of the school system in pharmacy education. RESULTS: It is not clear that the reformation of the school system in pharmacy education is aimed at undergraduate or graduate education in view of specialization of a higher education institute. The reformation of the school system is likely to cause educational inequality since a student who lacks financial support and cultural resources might give up entering pharmacy school. It also may ignite a struggle for power between pharmacists and physicians. The six- years curriculum is supposed to offer integrated experiences with a balance of theory and practice, representing characteristics such as consistency, clarity, reliability, and legitimacy. From the educational economy view, the validity of reformation of the school system can only be secured on the premise the expected income exceeds the total costs if the age-earning profile is constant in the current situation. CONCLUSION: Prior to discussions on the reformation of the school system in pharmacy education, the quality of pharmacy education should be improved first through multifarious efforts such as curriculum development, improvement to teaching and learning, introduction to an accreditation system, revision of the license examination, and graduate and continued pharmacy education and so on.