[The Ulm Emergency Training Course. 2: Realization and acceptance of the emergency medicine practicum]

The first part of this publication described the concept of the student course in emergency medicine at the University Hospital Ulm as part of a "vertical curriculum" of education in emergency medicine. METHODS. A training circuit (Fig. 1) was conceptualised using training manikins (i.e. BLS, intubation, megacode training, ATLS training), computer programmes (ECG-simulation) and other means of instruction to simulate twelve realistic situations. These practical skill sessions were linked with case presentation and lectures. Its topics were chosen depending on the prevalence, type and urgency. Separate guidelines for teachers and students were edited prior to the beginning of the course in 1994. RESULTS. Evaluation showed good acceptance by the students for most parts of the course except the ATLS skill station and CPR computer simulations (Table 5). The score of the national board examination (multiple-choice test) of the students from Ulm was nevertheless not better than the mean of all german examinees (72.1 to 71.7%). CONCLUSION. The concept of the course in emergency medicine is well accepted by our students. Results of the national examination were not improved, since the course aims at performance, skills and competence in emergency medicine and not at teaching factual knowledge that is measured by the MCQ examinations.