Medical Students as General Surgery Resident Teachers K. Wirth, B. Malone, K. Barrera, M. Klein, C. Turner, A. Sanni Department of Surgery SUNY Downstate Medical Center April 24th, 2013 Association for Surgical Education 2013
Senior Attending Junior Attending Senior Resident Junior Resident Medical Student Current Teaching Model
Interns First year as a clinical provider Further from basic sciences Less free time Medical students Fewer clinical duties Closer to basic sciences More time for preparation/review New teaching relationship
Study Objective To implement a standardized bedside curriculum that allows medical students to teach core surgical topics to residents on their clinical team.To implement a standardized bedside curriculum that allows medical students to teach core surgical topics to residents on their clinical team.
2-4 Residents Pretest Daily presentations on rounds 30 Presentations 10 by chief resident 20 by students Post-test Study Design * IRB Approved
Study Design
N=25 N=25 Over 8 clinical rotation cycles of 1 month each Over 8 clinical rotation cycles of 1 month each Interns from: Interns from: – General Surgery Prelim: 8 – General Surgery Categorical: 11 – Other surgical subspecialties: 4 – Family Medicine: 2 Demographics
Results: Total Exam Scores PretestPosttest * p <
Results: Topics Taught by Chief Pretest Posttest * p <.05
Results: Taught by Students Pretest Posttest * p <.05
Results: Mean Score Differential Students Chief * p = 0.236
Medical students can teach core surgical topics to residents, at least as effectively as the chiefs. Medical students can teach core surgical topics to residents, at least as effectively as the chiefs. “Near peer” teaching is not limited to a senior-junior level dynamic. Junior team members can provide a unique skill set that should be utilized. “Near peer” teaching is not limited to a senior-junior level dynamic. Junior team members can provide a unique skill set that should be utilized. Conclusions
The role of medical students as resident educators is a novel concept and should be encouraged on the general surgery service. Recommendations
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