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Integrating occupational health into the medicine clerkship using problem-based learning
R K Sokas1, D Diserens, M A Johnston
1Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037.
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Problem-based learning improved medical students' occupational history taking skills. This educational approach was well-received by students and modestly enhanced their ability to gather crucial patient occupational data.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Occupational Medicine
- Problem-Based Learning
Background:
- Occupational history taking is crucial for diagnosing work-related illnesses.
- Medical students often lack adequate training and confidence in obtaining detailed occupational histories.
- Effective educational strategies are needed to improve students' skills in this area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance medical students' ability and willingness to obtain occupational histories.
- To evaluate the impact of problem-based learning sessions on occupational history taking.
- To assess student and faculty perceptions of the educational intervention.
Main Methods:
- A problem-based learning (PBL) intervention was implemented during internal medicine clerkships.
- Students in the intervention group participated in PBL sessions with occupational health content.
- A control group received standard didactic sessions; outcomes were compared via chart audit and testing.
Main Results:
- PBL sessions were highly rated by students for engagement and relevance.
- Intervention students showed a modest, but significant, improvement in documenting detailed occupational information.
- No significant difference was found in overall or occupational medicine knowledge between groups.
Conclusions:
- Problem-based learning incorporating specific occupational content is well-accepted by medical students.
- This educational method offers a modest improvement in students' occupational history-taking skills.
- Further strategies may be needed to fully integrate occupational medicine into medical curricula.