From serendipity to technology: use of a web-based information and booking system to improve clinical attachments at...

Clinical attachments form a vital part of the learning experience for medical students but may vary in educational value. This paper describes a project intended to improve the quality of attachments at a District General Hospital in Devon, UK after negative feedback was received from students.

To improve educational quality by providing information and choice for students.

The intervention was to set up a web-based system that allowed students to view before arrival all educational opportunities available, not only in the hospital but in the surrounding district. Students were contacted by email 2 weeks before their attachment and were then able to construct their own timetable from the menu of opportunities available.

The system was popular with students, recruited new providers of learning opportunities and also integrated learning across primary and secondary care.

The intervention encouraged a sense of ownership of the learning experience as well as maximising the use of available learning resources.