An experiment in problem-based learning

Problem-solving skills are important for medical students and problem-based learning (PBL) is especially suited to general practice. Therefore an experiment using a form of PBL was introduced into a new 4-week course in general practice for final rotation students at the University of Glasgow in the session 1992-93. The experiment aimed to introduce students to an alternative method of learning to the traditional one previously used by them in their course, to encourage teamwork and to encourage the use of alternative methods of obtaining information. The method, centred around allowing the students to investigate problems they choose themselves, is described. The evaluation of the course by written standard form, free written comments and audiotape recorded interviews with a one in four sample of the class is presented. The students selected many interesting problems and used many different and unusual sources of information in researching them. This method of learning was compared with the parallel lecture course and was thought by the students to be more interesting but less relevant than the lecture course. The experiment showed that it is possible to introduce a problem-based form of learning into a new course in parallel with more traditional methods of teaching and for it to be at least partially successful for students much more used to a traditional didactic curriculum. Ways of improving the course in the future to make it more sensitive to the students' learning needs are discussed.