Getting ready for clerkship : medical school at the University of Ottawa

Abstract

For medical students, the transition from pre-clerkship to clerkship is a key period within the four-year program. At the University of Ottawa, there is dissatisfaction among students regarding their preparation for clerkship.

This study aims at strengthening the current medical curriculum to improve clerkship preparation by focusing particularly on the Integration Unit and the Link Period. A literature review was conducted to find relevant theoretical models supporting curriculum changes that intend to improve knowledge integration during pre-clerkship. Curriculum mapping of the Integration Unit and Link Period was also performed to conceptualize and to concretize the incorporation of the curricular changes.

In the integration unit, curriculum was divided into 54% didactic classes, 19% practical aspects and 21% workshops. For the Link Period, 22.3% contributed to didactic classes, 28.6% to workshops and 48% for practice in the hospital setting. Clerkship preparation can be improved by optimizing integration throughout pre-clerkship, particularly during the last unit of second year (Integration Unit). Positive modifications include: prioritizing active learning as opposed to passive learning; focusing on cognitive integration at the classroom level; building on complexity using a life-cycle approach aiming to have most complex subjects at the end of pre-clerkship; and having an associated physician skills development session to each case-based learning sessions.