gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: “Twenty years ago we did not realize what a Skills Lab is but we already had one” With the emigration into the New Vienna General Hospital in 1993 the students’ education in otorhinolaryngology had to be arranged in a new design.

Material and Methods: The spatial and technical requirements were established by adaptation of a preexisting lecture room and by installation of equipment for seven ear, nose and throat (ENT) examination chairs. Since then more than 15.000 students have been taught the technique of the indirect ENT-mirror examination to first practice it among themselves and then use it on patients. Up to 30 students were instructed simultaneously by only one person, usually the author himself, supported by an administrator responsible for all organizational matters including the supply of the devices. By this means, students are prepared for their clinical practice in 8 x 45 minutes. A mixture of didactic elements are applied: assessment of basic ENT anatomical knowledge before starting with practical exercises, the four steps method based on Peyton, Peer-teaching, feedback during the practical training by a specialist, mutual recitation and last not least lots of fun.

Results: With this didactic concept available today which has grown over the years students especially learn the indirect ENT mirror technique in a short, concentrated course. As a result, all students are widely able to perform an examination of a patient in the following practical course. Students’ evaluations which are held at regular intervals attest this teaching concept at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Medical University of Vienna to be useful.

Discussion: Group sizes of not more than six are considered best to learn practical skills. We could demonstrate that in the presented configuration even 30 students can learn simultaneously, clinical skills such as the indirect ENT-mirror technique instructed by only one teacher.

Conclusion: The ENT-skills Lab with its applied teaching is a capable institution enabling students to learn the basic practical knowledge of the indirect ENT-mirror examination even in groups of up to 30 participants [1].