Case-based Learning for Patient Safety: The Lessons Learnt Program for UK Junior Doctors

Excerpt

Nordquist et al. [1] report their experience with implementing surgical case-based learning (CBL) at the Undergraduate Medical Programme at Karolinska Institutet. A series of CBL seminars were introduced in place of traditional lectures at one of four teaching hospital sites. The intention was to stimulate higher levels of cognitive learning among the students, to foster reflection and peer-learning, and to help integrate theoretical knowledge with the clinical context. Interviews held with a sample of teachers and students at the pilot site highlighted various deficiencies in the process of implementation of CBL rather than a fault in the “function” of CBL per se. Failure to engage faculty and students; insufficient training/preparation, and a lack of alignment with clinical rotations and assessment were some of the factors that led to unsatisfactory implementation of CBL. From these findings, the authors derived a checklist to assist in the implementation of educational interventions aimed at enhancing surgical teaching and learning. …