PURPOSE: Learning physiological concepts and their practical applications in the appropriate contexts remains a great challenge for undergraduate medical students. Hence the present study aimed to analyze the learning experience of undergraduate medical students during an active learning process of ‘preparation of models’ depicting physiological concepts. METHODS: A total of 13 groups, involving 55 undergraduate medical students with three to five individuals in each group, were involved in model preparation. A total of 13 models were exhibited by the students. The students shared their learning experiences as responses to an open-ended questionnaire. The students' responses were analyzed and generalized comments were generated. RESULTS: Analysis of the results showed that the act of ‘model preparation’ improved concept understanding, retention of knowledge, analytical skills, and referral habits. Further, the process of ‘model preparation’ could satisfy all types of sensory modality learners. CONCLUSION: This novel active method of learning could be highly significant in students' understanding and learning physiology concepts. This approach could be incorporated in the traditional instructor-centered undergraduate medical curriculum as a way to innovate it.
Curriculum ; Education ; Humans ; Learning* ; Methods ; Physiological Phenomena* ; Physiology ; Problem-Based Learning ; Referral and Consultation ; Students, Medical*

INTRODUCTION: Bicycles injuries are the leading cause of emergency department visits among all recreational activities and have been established as a significant worldwide public health burden. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the epidemiology and patterns of paediatric bicycle-related injuries in Singapore. METHODS: This was a single-centre retrospective study based on data collected from a trauma registry between 2011 and 2016. RESULTS: A total of 760 patients presented to the emergency department during this period, of whom 68.2% were male and 39.7% were aged 10-16 years. 50.1% of the patients were Chinese and 25.9% were Malay. The cyclist was the person most commonly injured (65.7%) during the bicycle accident. From 2011 to 2015, the number of bicycle injuries showed a persistent upward trend. Superficial injuries such as abrasions and bruises were the most common injuries sustained (46.1%), followed by fractures. The majority of the patients were discharged from the emergency department. There were no bicycle accident deaths recorded during the study period. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated an increasing number of bicycle injuries among paediatric cyclists in the local setting. Parents, teachers, coaches and other caregivers should be educated regarding the need to use protective equipment and to seek medical care promptly in the case of trauma resulting from bicycle injuries.