Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
10:38
Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
Clinical observership: A desirable adjunct to preclinical training
The Australasian Medical Journal
|February 7, 2013
Summary
Early hospital exposure through a clinical observership program helps first-year medical students in India understand the relevance of basic sciences to clinical practice. This preclinical innovation enhances motivation and learning for future physicians.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Preclinical Training
Background:
- Medical students often lack understanding of basic sciences' clinical relevance during preclinical years.
- Exposure to hospital environments typically occurs late in medical training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce preclinical medical students to clinical settings early in their training.
- To demonstrate the practical application of basic sciences in medicine.
- To enhance student motivation and engagement in preclinical education.
Main Methods:
- A mandatory eight-week 'clinical observership' program was implemented for first-year medical students.
- Students rotated through eight clinical disciplines, observing activities and interacting with healthcare professionals and patients.
- The program aimed to connect basic science principles with clinical scenarios.
Main Results:
- The clinical observership program was highly appreciated by students.
- Students found the program useful, interesting, and motivating.
- The observership successfully highlighted the foundational role of basic sciences in clinical practice.
Conclusions:
- Early exposure to clinical environments can significantly improve preclinical medical education.
- Integrating such observership programs can make preclinical training more meaningful and engaging.
- This innovative approach prepares students for their future roles as physicians by bridging basic science and clinical practice.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Preclinical Development: Overview
Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...
01:11Observational Studies
Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
02:30Naturalistic Observations
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview
Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
01:12Observational Learning
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning because...
01:16Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...