Opportunities for medical students to perform four common ward procedures in a Malaysian teaching hospital
- Author:
Siew Kheong Lum
;
Wei Rong Lee
;
Syn Dee Ch’ng
;
Navin Raj a/l Balachandran
;
Chee Kit Tee
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
procedural competency, medical education Malaysia
- From:International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education
2013;7(1):10-14
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Undergraduate medical education
should be broad-based, holistic, integrated and
should promote a framework for the development
of higher order cognitive skills like communication,
professionalism and teamwork to prepare the student
for a life-long challenging medical career. Recent calls
for a competency-based medical education require, in
addition, competency in clinical and procedural skills
prior to graduation. This study investigates how often
opportunities exist for medical students to perform four
common ward procedures prior to graduation.
Method: A prospective cross-sectional study to assess
the opportunities a medical student have in performing
four common ward procedures, comprising intravenous
cannulation, nasogastric tube insertion, urinary
catheterisation and chest tube insertion, in a State
General hospital in Malaysia was done.
Results: A medical student has sufficient opportunity
to perform only intravenous cannulation prior to
graduation. He has a remote chance to insert a urinary
catheter and is unlikely to have the opportunity to
insert a nasogastric tube or insert a chest tube prior to
graduation.
Conclusion: Although competency in clinical skills
and procedural skills prior to graduation are desirable,
this is increasingly difficult to achieve due to shortage
of clinical material, teachers to supervise, the large
numbers of medical students and house officers, the
short time spent on the main disciplines and the
failure of many universities to invest heavily in skills
laboratories staffed by full time clinicians. The calls
to introduce competency-based medical education
in undergraduate medical education, particularly in
procedural competence, should take into account the
challenges in delivery and the realities in the hospitals
today. This is necessary to avoid demoralising students
who are unable to achieve their quota of procedures
through no fault of theirs.
- Full text:W020151005527260116261.pdf
