Motivating medical students to learn basic science concepts using chronic myeloid leukemia as an integration theme

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Hematology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Curriculum updates at Universidade Estadual de Campinas focus on "learning to learn."
• Integration of clinical cases into basic science courses aims to enhance student engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the use of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as a theme for basic clinical integration in the first year of medical school.
• To motivate students and foster a deeper understanding of basic sciences through a relevant clinical example.

Main Methods:

• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) case studies were integrated into a molecular and cell biology course over 13 years.
• Students engaged in horizontal integration, discussing CML in relation to cell structure, genetics, and signaling pathways.
• Interactive evaluations and written reports assessed student comprehension of CML's molecular and therapeutic basis.

Main Results:

• High student motivation and low absenteeism (less than 20%) were observed.
• Over 70% of answers in interactive evaluations were correct.
• A median of 67% of students scored above 7 in final written evaluations, with many pursuing research.

Conclusions:

• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) serves as an effective model for basic clinical integration.
• The disease's complex molecular, cytogenetic, and cellular aspects, coupled with defined diagnostics and targeted therapy, make it ideal for teaching.
• This educational strategy successfully enhances basic science comprehension and clinical relevance for medical students.