Bench work and clinical relevance: a new strategy in pathology education

It is recognised that medical students' perceptions of pathology can be improved by presenting pathology curricula in a clinically oriented manner. This study investigated how pathology teaching could be made more clinically relevant, using the coagulation laboratory practical for Year 2 students at the Australian National University Medical School as a case study, with a particular focus on the role of laboratory bench work.

An e-survey was posted to 80 medical students who participated in the coagulation practical in 2005, followed by in-depth interviews for four consenting students. Four teachers were also interviewed to obtain additional perspectives.

Students and teachers showed markedly different views of the clinical relevance of the practical; however, most were in favour of bench work. Greater clinical orientation was the predominant objective identified to improve the practical. Incorporation of laboratory bench-work within case-based sessions, in small group settings, were the strategies recommended to achieve these.

A model for a 2 hour laboratory practical is proposed, involving a case-based session incorporating bench work, followed by case discussion to integrate laboratory results with clinical management. This approach is likely to be effective in pathology teaching across all disciplines.