Clare Sullivan|Claire Condron|Claire Mulhall|Mohammad AlMulla|Maria Kelly|Daire O’Leary|Walter Eppich
Preparing for Pediatrics: Experiential Learning Helps Medical Students Prepare for Their Clinical Placement
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland|Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland|Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland|Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland|Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland|Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland|Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
despite importance effective communication skills pediatrics clinical placements may inadequately prepare undergraduate students communicate children integration nonclinical interactions healthy children within pediatric curriculum potential enhance learning designed implemented novel course involving experiential learning including videorecorded consultations simulated parents sps teambased scenarios pediatric mannequin interactions healthy children preschool visit medical student led health workshops primary school children medical students rcsi university medicine health sciences took part course used mixed methods approach assess impact course investigated medical students perspectives pre postintervention questionnaire postintervention focus group discussions fgds assessed participating childrens health literacy start course 144279 516 fourth year medical student cohort pediatric rotation consented participate study 144 100 consenting students completed preintervention questionnaire 59144 401 consenting students completed postintervention questionnaire results showed statistically significant improvement ratings p 005 items related managing confrontational situation involving family members completing psychosocial assessment adolescent effectiveness using evidencebased medicine ebm motivating patients statistically significant decrease students rated comfort using ebm motivating patients four themes relating students experienced intervention identified eight fgds n 35 students shaping student learning supporting student learning developing new skills feeling prepared 3949 796 children completed health literacy assessment questions high percentage positive responses question 7 understanding doctor highest proportion negative responses 27 one first studies design educational intervention enhance pediatrics teaching combining interactions healthy children outside clinical setting traditional simulationbased approaches conclude type intervention supports students learning pediatric communication skills enhances students perceived preparation clinical placement