A gynaecologic clinic dedicated to student teaching

To compare medical student experiences in an innovative out-patient clinic, in which women are cared for directly by medical students, versus the traditional resident continuity clinics (RCCs).

A prospective study with medical students randomly assigned to either the Medical Student Out-patient Clinic (MSOC) or the RCC. Students rated their preceptors on a five-point Likert scale and completed an experience log. The primary outcome was student perception of overall teaching quality. Secondary outcomes included the numbers of patients they saw, as well as the number of speculum examinations, bimanual examinations and breast examinations they personally performed, and the number of sessions in which a preceptor did not submit an evaluation of the student.

A total of 62 out of 63 students (98%) completed surveys during the study period. MSOC students performed more bimanual exams (1.7 versus 1.2, p = 0.015) and breast exams (1.0 versus 0.3, p < 0.001), saw fewer patients (1.8 versus 4.2, p < 0.001), and rated both the overall teaching quality (4.8 versus 4.0, p < 0.001) and the preceptor (5.0 versus 4.2, p < 0.001) higher. MSOC students received more feedback from their preceptors.

The MSOC programme provided our students with an improved learning experience. The high ratings were likely to have resulted from the one-on-one teaching from the attending physician and the absence of competing resident learners.