Research article
An interactive problem-solving approach to teach traumatology for medical students
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* Corresponding author: Fikri M Abu-Zidan fabuzidan@uaeu.ac.ae
1 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, UAE
2 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Auckland University, New Zealand
3 College of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, King Saud bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
World Journal of Emergency Surgery 2010, 5:24 doi:10.1186/1749-7922-5-24
Published: 13 August 2010Abstract
Aim
We aimed to evaluate an interactive problem-solving approach for teaching traumatology from perspectives of students and consider its implications on Faculty development.
Methods
A two hour problem-solving, interactive tutorial on traumatology was structured to cover main topics in trauma management. The tutorial was based on real cases covering specific topics and objectives. Seven tutorials (5-9 students in each) were given by the same tutor with the same format for fourth and fifth year medical students in Auckland and UAE Universities (n = 50). A 16 item questionnaire, on a 7 point Likert-type scale, focusing on educational tools, tutor-based skills, and student-centered skills were answered by the students followed by open ended comments.
Results
The tutorials were highly ranked by the students. The mean values of educational tools was the highest followed by tutor-centered skills and finally student-centered skills. There was a significant increase of the rating of studied attributes over time (F = 3.9, p = 0.004, ANOVA). Students' open ended comments were highly supportive of the interactive problem-solving approach for teaching traumatology.
Conclusions
The interactive problem-solving approach for tutorials can be an effective enjoyable alternative or supplement to traditional instruction for teaching traumatology to medical students. Training for this approach should be encouraged for Faculty development.