Surgical Education Week 2013 Inductive vs. Deductive Learning on a General Surgery Clerkship B. Malone, K. Wirth, K. Barrera M. Klein, C. Turner, A. Sanni Department of Surgery SUNY-Downstate Medical Center B. Malone, K. Wirth, K. Barrera M. Klein, C. Turner, A. Sanni Department of Surgery SUNY-Downstate Medical Center

Medical Education Recent philosophies driving changes in undergraduate medical educationRecent philosophies driving changes in undergraduate medical education Most curriculum changes in the past 10 years focus on the first 2 years of medical schoolMost curriculum changes in the past 10 years focus on the first 2 years of medical school Recent philosophies driving changes in undergraduate medical educationRecent philosophies driving changes in undergraduate medical education Most curriculum changes in the past 10 years focus on the first 2 years of medical schoolMost curriculum changes in the past 10 years focus on the first 2 years of medical school

Teaching Styles Directed "traditional," didactic lecturersenior, experienced lecturer presents entirety of information instructor-driven large groups Inductive gaining acceptance senior serves as guide for discussion student-driven small groups

Hypotheses Inductive learning has a greater positive impact on students' acquisition of knowledge than traditional directed learning.Inductive learning has a greater positive impact on students' acquisition of knowledge than traditional directed learning. Students prefer inductive learning methods to traditional directed learning.Students prefer inductive learning methods to traditional directed learning. Inductive learning has a greater positive impact on students' acquisition of knowledge than traditional directed learning.Inductive learning has a greater positive impact on students' acquisition of knowledge than traditional directed learning. Students prefer inductive learning methods to traditional directed learning.Students prefer inductive learning methods to traditional directed learning.

Study Design Core surgical topics Explicit outline of how topics should be covered along with a recommended textbook (Lawrence) Presentations during morning rounds limited to 5 minutes with a timer

Study Design Pre-Test Daily Presentations on Rounds Post-Test Directed (chief resident) Directed (chief resident) Inductive (students) *n = 42 students *IRB approved June 29, 2012

Study Design

Results p < 0.001

Results p < 0.001p = 0.005

Results

Conclusion Inductive teaching significantly improves students' core surgical knowledge over the traditional directed lecturing style Students prefer inductive learning to directed learning Inductive teaching significantly improves students' core surgical knowledge over the traditional directed lecturing style Students prefer inductive learning to directed learning

Recommendation This inductive teaching curriculum should be incorporated into more medical student clerkship curricula, especially on general surgery rotations.