gms | German Medical Science

Joint congress of the Gesellschaft für Medizinische Ausbildung (GMA) and the Arbeitskreis zur Weiterentwicklung der Lehre in der Zahnmedizin (AKWLZ)

20.09. - 23.09.2017, Münster

Teaching Family Medicine in Germany’s first Student-run Free Clinic

Meeting Abstract

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Gemeinsame Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Medizinische Ausbildung (GMA) und des Arbeitskreises zur Weiterentwicklung der Lehre in der Zahnmedizin (AKWLZ). Münster, 20.-23.09.2017. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2017. Doc112

doi: 10.3205/17gma112, urn:nbn:de:0183-17gma1120

Published: November 24, 2017

© 2017 Seifert.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Outline

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Background: In 2014 the medical faculty of Goethe University (GU), Frankfurt established Germany’s first student- run free clinic (SRFC), called StuPoli.

In StuPoli medical students supervised by experienced physicians provide primary care to patients without health insurance. Prior students have to complete a peer-based program (PBP) where they are trained in basic clinical skills and family medicine related knowledge.

Methods: 36 students in first clinical semester (control group n=11; study group n=25) were asked to self-assess their knowledge and skills before and after completing curricular training (CT) alone or CT and PBP. In a 30 item questionnaire self-confidence levels were measured using a 6-point likert-scale ranging from 1 (“I feel very secure”) to 6 (“I don’t feel secure at all”).

StuPoli’s ES included a two day training on physical examination and medical history taking, 8 cased-based theoretical lessons and participation in three of StuPoli’ s consultation hours.

Results: 24 out of 36 students filled out the questionnaire (response rate = 67%). Compared to the control group study group participants felt highly significantly more secure in physical examination (p<.00001 vs. p=.25), medical case history taking (p<.004 vs. p=.125), clinical reasoning in frequent consultation issues (p< .0001 vs. p=.125), interpretation of ECG (p<.0015 vs. p>.99), performing abdominal ultrasound (p<.0001vs. p=.203) after completing StuPoli’s ES.

Discussion: The results show an overall increase in self-confidence levels compared to the control group indicating that participation in PBP has led to an improvement in clinical skills. Peer-based learning seems to be an useful adjunct for teaching family medicine related knowledge and skills. Therefore StuPoli’s ES could serve as a model for other SRFC to improve quality for patients and the learning experience for participating students. StuPoli serves as a lighthouse project for medical faculties trying to establish a SRFC.