Teaching functioning, disability and rehabilitation to first year medical students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Medical education must address the needs of patients with disabilities.
• Hannover Medical School introduced a course on disability and rehabilitation communication in 2006.
• The "Introduction to medicine" course aims to equip students with systematic problem-solving skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the content, methods, and outcomes of the "Pain and disability" module.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of early-career medical training in disability and rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• The study focuses on the "Pain and disability" module, a component of the "Introduction to medicine" course.
• The module is integrated into the second week of the curriculum for first-year medical students.

Main Results:

• Student evaluations showed high ratings (93%) for "patient involvement" in the module.
• Ratings for "examination of student knowledge" were low.
• The module received an overall "good" rating (10.8/15), but not "very good".

Conclusions:

• The "Pain and disability" module is a feasible and successful educational intervention.
• Success factors include a blend of knowledge, understanding, and practical skills.
• The module's early integration and large student participation (approx. 350) demonstrate its viability.