Introducing clinical paediatrics to medical students: A novel hospital visitation programme involving Kindergarten children

Mimi Pham School of Women and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Australia and Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Dr MIMI PHAM is a paediatrician based at Sydney Children's Hospital. She previously held a position as associate lecturer with the School of Women s and Children s Health, University of New South Wales. Her interests include medical education and research.

Bronwyn Chan School of Women and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Australia and Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Dr BRONWYN CHAN is a Consultant General Paediatrician at Sydney Children's Hospital. She is a Lecturer in the School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales and has an interest in Medical Education.Correspondence[email protected]

Katrina Williams School of Women and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Australia and Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR KATRINA Williams is a paediatrician and public health physician, currently working as a Community Paediatrician and Co-ordinator of Clinical Research at Sydney Children s Hospital and Associate Professor for the University of NSW. Katrina is actively involved in clinical care, medical education and research.

Karen Zwi School of Women and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Australia and Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Dr KAREN ZWI is Consultant Community Paediatrician and Head of Department at Sydney Children s Hospital and Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales. Her main interests include medical education and improving the health of refugee and Aboriginal children and young people in Australia.

Les White School of Women and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Australia and Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; PROFESSOR LES WHITE is Executive Director of Sydney Children's Hospital. He was awarded a Doctorate of Science for research contributions related to childhood cancer and has a Master of Health Administration. He holds the John Beveridge Chair of Paediatrics at the University of New South Wales.

Abstract

Background: Increasing numbers of medical students in Australia and shorter paediatric hospitalisations require new and creative ways to teach clinical paediatric medicine. At the University of New South Wales, Sydney, we developed a programme involving well Kindergarten children visiting Sydney Children's Hospital to introduce medical students to clinical paediatric medicine.

Aim: The aim was to teach medical students how to engage children and gain their cooperation while performing paediatric examinations.

Methods: Eight sessions were conducted involving 240 Kindergarten students from seven local primary schools and 217 medical students. School children were escorted by medical students through five activities comprising examination of gross motor skills, testing visual acuity and otoscopy, measuring growth parameters, chest auscultation, pulse counting and blood pressure cuff inflation. Questionnaires were used to gather quantitative and qualitative evaluation data.

Results: The programme achieved its main objective, with 94% of students rating highly their learning about interacting with children and appreciating the challenges in examining them. Medical students (94%), tutors (100%) and participating schools (100%) thought the programme should be continued.

Conclusion: This new, innovative programme involving well children introduces medical students to clinical paediatric medicine.

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Introducing clinical paediatrics to medical students: A novel hospital visitation programme involving Kindergarten children

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Introducing clinical paediatrics to medical students: A novel hospital visitation programme involving Kindergarten children

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