This study explored the differences in academic achievement and psychological/emotional well-being between criterion-referenced evaluation (CRE) and norm-referenced evaluation (NRE) at a medical school. The objective was to address concerns about declining academic performance and to propose evaluation methods that promote a more supportive learning environment for students. In total, 90 first-year medical students who completed the basic medical curriculum in 2022 and 2023 were surveyed and analyzed. The sample consisted of 45 students assessed by NRE in 2022 and 45 students assessed by CRE in 2023. Academic performance was measured using school grades in basic medical subjects and scores from the Basic Medical Education Evaluation. Psychological and emotional well-being were assessed through scales measuring academic burnout, academic motivation, coping efficacy, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. The results indicated that students assessed by CRE achieved significantly higher academic scores in certain subjects than those assessed by NRE. Additionally, the CRE group exhibited more positive psychological and emotional states, including lower levels of academic burnout, anxiety, and depression. These findings suggest that CRE may have a beneficial impact on students’ emotional well-being and overall academic experience. The study concludes that CRE plays a critical role in improving both academic performance and emotional health among medical students, and that transitioning to CRE may alleviate concerns about declining grades while promoting a more supportive learning environment.

Yonsei University College of Medicine (YUCM) adopted a criterion-referenced assessment (CRA) system in 2014. Six cohorts have graduated over the past decade under CRA. Positive impacts on student wellness and academic achievement were observed during the system’s initial years, and this study therefore aimed to analyze the changing perceptions of graduating students who experienced CRA to reflect YUCM’s experience of CRA implementation and suggest future directions and insights. Utilizing self-reporting graduation survey data of 621 graduates from 2018 to 2023, eight items regarding perceptions of CRA were examined with analysis of variance to explore changes in perceptions among the graduates, and short answers were also reviewed to investigate keywords and main themes. The CRA grading system positively influenced students’ learning motivation, level of class participation, cooperative attitudes, and self-directed attitudes. In particular, students’ perceptions of cooperative attitudes significantly improved from 2018 (3.97) to 2023 (4.46). The system also had a positive impact on students’ interest in conducting research from 2018 (3.04) to 2023 (3.56). Students’ perceptions of validity significantly increased from 2018 (3.40) to 2023 (3.92), and the perceptions of reliability also increased from 2018 (3.38) to 2023 (3.65), although the inter-year changes were not statistically significant. This study on graduating students’ changing perceptions of the CRA at YUCM aligned with the intended goals and context of its introduction and implementation. Ongoing improvements in fairness and reliability are required to enhance students’ perceptions of the system’s credibility, necessitating ongoing education and improvement efforts. Further studies on the positive and negative factors influencing perceptions of CRA are required to derive insights for system improvement.

Purpose: Lecture-based teaching is widely used in preclinical medical education, offering a systematic way to deliver complex information efficiently. However, its effectiveness heavily relies on the instructional behaviors of lecturers. Despite its importance, limited research has explored the specific differences between effective and ineffective teaching behaviors perceived by students. This study aims to analyze these behaviors systematically to provide actionable insights for enhancing teaching competencies. Methods: This study surveyed 92 first-year medical students to evaluate effective and ineffective teaching behaviors. A 30-item questionnaire was developed based on existing literature. Data analysis included descriptive statistics to rank teaching behaviors and chi-square tests to examine their correlations. Results: Effective behaviors included appropriate voice volume, clear pronunciation, error-free lecture materials, clear explanations of learning objectives, and humor. Ineffective behaviors were poor voice clarity, insufficient summarization, lack of follow-up session introductions, absence of online resources, and poor interaction. Significant relationships between effective and ineffective behaviors were observed in some items. Conclusion The study highlights those effective behaviors, such as recalling prior learning, utilizing materials, and engaging students, enhance learning outcomes. Faculty development should focus on avoiding ineffective behaviors for novice faculty and reinforcing effective ones for mid-career faculty to improve teaching quality in medical education.

Purpose: This study evaluated a school-based mental health program within a psychiatry clerkship to enhance medical students’ competencies in mental health literacy, empathy, communication, and adaptability. The program aimed to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical skills through experiential learning in a real-world, community-based setting. Methods: The study utilized convenience sampling to select 32 medical students from the 2023–2024 psychiatry clerkship cohort. Four focus group discussions, each lasting 60–90 minutes, provided qualitative data, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis in Atlas.ti (ATLAS.ti GmbH, Germany) to identify themes related to professional development. Results: Five key themes emerged, highlighting significant gains in context-sensitive communication, empathy, and mental health literacy specific to adolescent issues. The students reported increased clinical confidence, enhanced resilience through psychological techniques such mindfulness and motivational interviewing, and benefited from sustained engagement and peer support, fostering collaboration and stress management. Conclusion The school-based mental health program enhanced essential competencies in mental health literacy, empathy, communication, and practical skills for medical students. By integrating experiential learning into medical education, the program addressed training gaps, equipping future healthcare providers with the skills necessary for holistic and patient-centered mental healthcare across diverse clinical settings. The approach showed potential for broader applications in medical education to prepare students for comprehensive mental health support skills.

Simulation is an educational approach that promotes the mastery of technical skills while advancing the development of non-technical competencies, both of which are widely acknowledged as essential in clinical practice. This review aimed to synthesize findings on the impact of simulation in enhancing critical thinking and reflection among nursing and medical students. Following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), a systematic review was conducted by searching the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus. The quality of the included studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. The protocol was previously registered in the PROSPERO registry (CRD42022371971). From 1,323 studies identified in primary research, 16 were included in this review, involving a total of 1,283 students. Of the 16 studies, seven investigated the impact of simulation on critical thinking and reported a positive effect compared to traditional teaching methods. For student reflection, only one study addressed this theme and reported a positive effect on nursing students. This review demonstrated that simulation has a positive impact on critical thinking; however, its impact on reflection remains inconclusive. Further research is essential to explore its effects across diverse populations, including those in developing countries, to maximize its educational potential in health professions education.

Purpose: Addressing health inequities is an integral part of contemporary medical education (ME), yet traditional lecture-based formats often fail to develop students’ deeper understanding and engagement. This study examined how a project-based learning (PjBL) approach influenced students’ learning experiences related to health equity. Methods: This was a qualitative phenomenology study. We designed an elective course on health equity using the PjBL approach and active learning methods. All participating students were asked to complete a group project aimed at addressing a specific health inequity issue from the surrounding community. Data were collected through reflective writing at the end of the course and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Twenty-seven codings were identified from 259 meaningful quotes (interrater agreement 99.62%) and grouped into four categories: character, role, competence, and learning experience. Results: Three major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) key learning experiences during the ME course (active learning, role-modeling, collaborative learning, comprehensive learning, and affective learning); (2) topics that facilitated students’ understanding of health inequities and physicians’ roles, particularly in addressing health inequities in Indonesia; and (3) the influence of the ME course on students’ outlook and beliefs. Conclusion Although this study did not introduce a novel method of instruction, it underscores the value of PjBL in enhancing students’ capacity to understand and tackle health inequities.

Haptic dental simulators are gaining recognition for training dental students. However, there needs to be more evidence of their pedagogical effectiveness. The primary aims were to (1) identify the published studies related to the application of virtual reality (VR) and haptic technology in the restorative dentistry training of dental students, (2) recognize the outcome criteria used in the published studies, and (3) determine the subjective evaluation of VR and haptic technology in the restorative dentistry training by the students. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to find scholarly articles that assessed the utilization of VR and haptics in training students in restorative dentistry. The investigation was performed via seven online databases: Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, Science Direct Freedom Collection, Latin American & Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), EMBASE, and MEDLINE. Of the 268 potential articles assessed, 22 met the inclusion criteria. Findings demonstrated feasibility and acceptability. Additionally, there was improved motor skill acquisition and retention and less time for dental restoration after haptic virtual reality training. With the rising evidence of efficacy and increased utilization of digital technologies, virtual reality, and haptics has a role in improving students’ education outcomes.