Continuing education for medical students: a library model

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Academic Libraries
• Student Engagement

Background:

• Continuing medical education (CME) programs offer valuable skill development for medical students.
• Academic medical libraries can serve as venues for innovative educational initiatives.
• Engaging students in extracurricular learning is crucial for comprehensive medical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a three-year continuing medical education-style program designed for medical students.
• To assess the program's effectiveness and identify factors influencing student participation.
• To develop a reproducible model for engaging medical students in skill-building activities outside the traditional curriculum.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys and focus groups.
• Participants included medical students who attended the program and those who did not.
• Focus groups explored student experiences, motivations, and barriers to attendance.

Main Results:

• Focus groups involved eleven student participants.
• Key drivers for attendance included interesting topics and the provision of lunch.
• Identified barriers to participation encompassed lack of interest, scheduling conflicts, inconvenient location, and general convenience.

Conclusions:

• Despite challenges in achieving high attendance rates, medical students recognized and valued the skill-acquisition opportunities provided.
• The study demonstrates a replicable strategy for enhancing student engagement through library-based educational programs.
• This initiative highlights the potential of academic libraries to support medical student development beyond the core curriculum.