Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2009 Aug;24(8):929-33.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-009-1032-7. Epub 2009 Jun 12.

Impact of a pre-clinical clinical skills curriculum on student performance in third-year clerkships

Molly Blackley Jackson  1 , Misbah Keen, Marjorie D Wenrich, Doug C Schaad, Lynne Robins, Erika A Goldstein
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Impact of a pre-clinical clinical skills curriculum on student performance in third-year clerkships

Molly Blackley Jackson et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Research on the outcomes of pre-clinical curricula for clinical skills development is needed to assess their influence on medical student performance in clerkships.

Objective: To better understand the impact of a clinical-skills curriculum in the pre-clinical setting on student performance.

Design: We conducted a non-randomized, retrospective, pre-post review of student performance evaluations from 3rd-year clerkships, before and after implementation of a clinical-skills curriculum, the Colleges (2001-2007).

Main results: Comparisons of clerkship performance data revealed statistically significant differences favoring the post-Colleges group in the Internal Medicine clerkship for 9 of 12 clinical-skills domains, including Technical Communication Skills (p < 0.023, effect size 0.16), Procedural Skills (p < 0.031, effect size 0.17), Communication Skills (p < 0.003, effect size 0.21), Patient Relationships (p < 0.003, effect size 0.21), Professional Relationships (p < 0.021, effect size 0.17), Educational Attitudes (p < 0.001, effect size 0.24), Initiative and Interest (p < 0.032, effect size 0.15), Attendance and Participation (p < 0.007, effect size 0.19), and Dependability (p < 0.008, effect size 0.19). Statistically significant differences were identified favoring the post-Colleges group in technical communication skills for three of six basic clerkships (Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Pediatrics).

Conclusions: Implementation of a pre-clinical fundamental skills curriculum appears to be associated with improved clerkship performance in the 3rd year of medical school, particularly in the Internal Medicine clerkship. Similar curricula, focused on teaching clinical skills in small groups at the bedside with personalized mentoring from faculty members, may improve student performance. Continued efforts are needed to understand how to best prepare students for clinical clerkships and how to evaluate outcomes of similar pre-clinical skills programs.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1001/jama.254.1.70', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.254.1.70'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '3999353', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3999353/'}]}
    2. Kern DC, Parrino TA, Korst DR. The lasting value of clinical skills. JAMA. 1985;254:70–6. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1056/NEJMra055445', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmra055445'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17005951', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17005951/'}]}
    2. Cooke M, Irby DM, Sullivan W, Ludmerer KM. American Medical Education 100 years after the Flexner Report. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:1339–44. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1001/jama.296.9.1128', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.296.9.1128'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '16954492', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16954492/'}]}
    2. Emanuel EJ. Changing premed requirements and the medical curriculum. JAMA. 2006;296(9):1128–31. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14464-9', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(03)14464-9'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '14550696', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14550696/'}]}
    2. Reilly BM. Physical examination in the care of medical inpatients: an observational study. Lancet. 2003;362:1100–5. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1001/jama.269.16.2101', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.269.16.2101'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '8468764', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8468764/'}]}
    2. Novack DH, Volk G, Drossman DA, Lipkin M. Medical interviewing and interpersonal skills teaching in the U.S. medical schools. Progress, problems, and promise. JAMA. 1993;269:2101–5. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms