Problem-Based Learning in Anesthesiology: An Evaluative Study of a Medical Student Clerkship

Problem-based learning (PBL) in medical education has enjoyed widespread acceptance in recent years, particularly in the basic sciences. However, it has been used less frequently in the clinical education of medical students, and quite infrequently in medical student education on anesthesiology. Critics of PBL emphasize cost factors and a lack of evidence of superior educational outcomes.

This study reports evaluation data on the use of PBL with fourth year medical students who rotated through a required clerkship in clinical anesthesiology and pharmacology over the course of three academic years. Students were asked to complete evaluation questionnaires concerning the clerkship, with particular attention to PBL and the performance of PBL preceptors. Preceptors were also asked to self-rate their performance by using identical questionnaires. Standardized items across all three years facilitated analysis of student and faculty satisfaction as one outcome of the PBL process.

Results indicate that student response to PBL was mixed. Students rated PBL preceptors more favorably than the PBL process itself, and rated resident physician preceptors more favorably than attending physician preceptors. All preceptors rated their own performance lower than did their students. Significant differences between student and faculty opinion of PBL were also noted. Interpretation of results are limited by less than ideal response rates; nevertheless, valuable insight was gained into the perception of PBL in an anesthesiology clerkship.

The success of this educational method may be dependent upon certain factors related to "educational context". Further study is needed of contextual and other factors related to the use of PBL in medical education.