A station-based concept for teaching the neurological examination: A prospective quasi-experimental study

Background: The neurological examination is considered to be complex and contributes to the phenomenon of "neurophobia". It is traditionally taught in small groups by residents ("traditional concept"), making the learning success partially dependent on the resident's level of clinical training, didactic education and personal motivation. Aim of this study was to examine the effects of a newly developed concept ("station concept") for teaching the neurological examination on achieving an improved and more equal transfer of knowledge and practical skills. Methods: A prospective quasi-experimental design was used to compare the traditional concept with the newly developed station concept, in which the teaching content was divided in eight subdivisions (stations) with one resident being assigned to one station. The primary endpoints of the study were the differences in students' self-assessments of learning success in the different subdomains of the neurological examination, and secondary analyses focused on evaluation results of students and residents. Results: 144 students and 28 residents participated in the traditional concept (summer semester 2012) and 151 students and 28 residents in the station concept (winter semester 2012/13). In the station-concept students' self-assessment significantly improved in the domains "Motor System", "Coordination" and "Mental Status" compared to the traditional concept. Students' evaluation showed significant improvement in five out of eight points. Fifty percent of residents rated the new approach superior to the traditional approach, ten percent as inferior. Conclusion: The station concept improved students' self-assessed learning success as well as evaluation results while simultaneously achieving high acceptance in residents.