A different approach to teaching pre-clerkship students physical diagnosis: standardized patient instructor-senior medical student teaching teams

Authors

Audrey Spelde, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 9109 Fall River Ln, Potomac, Md, 20854, USA.
Benjamin Blatt, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 9109 Fall River Ln, Potomac, Md, 20854, USA.
Karen L. Lewis, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 9109 Fall River Ln, Potomac, Md, 20854, USA.
Jennifer L. Owens, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 9109 Fall River Ln, Potomac, Md, 20854, USA.
Larrie Greenberg, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 9109 Fall River Ln, Potomac, Md, 20854, USA. lgreenbe@gwu.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-21-2023

Journal

BMC medical education

Volume

23

Issue

1

DOI

10.1186/s12909-023-04782-4

Keywords

Co-teaching; Medical students as teachers; Physical diagnosis; Physical exam; Pre-clerkship instruction; Standardized patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Faculty have traditionally taught the physical examination (PE) to novice medical students (pre-clerkship students.), despite recruiting and cost issues and problems standardizing their approach. ACTIVITY: We present a model using standardized patient instructor (SPI)-fourth year medical student (MS4) teams to teach PE to pre-clerkship students, leveraging the benefits of co-teaching and peer-assisted learning. RESULTS: Surveys of pre-clerkship students, MS4s and SPIs indicate positive perceptions of the program, including MS4s reporting significant growth in their professional identities as educators. Pre-clerkship students' performance on the spring clinical skills exams was equivalent to or better than their peer performance pre-program implementation. IMPLICATIONS: SPI-MS4 teams can effectively teach novice students the mechanics and clinical context of the beginners' physical exam.

APA Citation

Spelde, Audrey; Blatt, Benjamin; Lewis, Karen L.; Owens, Jennifer L.; and Greenberg, Larrie, "A different approach to teaching pre-clerkship students physical diagnosis: standardized patient instructor-senior medical student teaching teams" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 3774.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/3774

Department

Medicine