Portfolio learning: a proposal for undergraduate cancer teaching

This paper describes a randomized study to evaluate a longitudinal approach to undergraduate education using cancer patients and cancer medicine as a model. Medical students were randomized to the study or control group. Those in the study were allocated to tutors (general practitioners or consultants) in groups of three. Each student was allocated three consenting patients with cancer to follow longitudinally. They compiled a portfolio to record events, interactions, relevant articles, etc. based around the patients' case histories. The students received tutorials to provide direction, discussion and support bimonthly during the course. Evaluation was by central review of the portfolios, appraisal in the clinical competence examination and hidden questions in the standard MCQ examinations. The aim was to provide the learner with a personal experience of cancer patients at all stages of the disease, an understanding of the natural history of cancer and an insight into the impact of the disease and its treatment on the patient and family. The study evaluates whether these aims were achieved to a greater extent in those students receiving the portfolio teaching compared with a control group receiving the standard curriculum teaching only.