Learning core clinical skills—a survey at 3 time points during medical education

Abstract

Background: It is generally unknown which clinical skills students acquire during medical education and which factors influence their levels of competence.

Methods: We asked German medical students how competent they felt in performing individual clinical skills.

Results: Third year students evaluated their competence in clinical skills, on average, not better than 4.7 on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (= ‘excellent’) to 6 (= ‘insufficient’). The average score for fifth year students was 4.1, for final-year students 3.3. Deficits in all groups of students were most prominent in communication skills and diagnostic skills.

Conclusions: These results are a plea for a structured curriculum including training courses to practice clinical skills.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Thomas Fischer

THOMAS FISCHER, MD, is a practising GP. Areas of interest: medical education, clinical medicine.All authors are members of the Department of General Practice at the University of Göttingen, Germany.

Jean-Francois Chenot

JEAN-FRANCOIS CHENOT, MD, MPH, is practising part-time in group practice apart from being a researcher. Areas of interest: clinical epidemiology, medical education.

Anne Simmenroth-Nayda

ANNE SIMMENROTH-NAJDA, MD, is working as a researcher. Areas of interest: medical education, clinical medicine.

Stephanie Heinemann

STEPHANIE HEINEMANN, BA, is responsible for research organization and data management.

Michael M. Kochen

Professor MICHAEL M. KOCHEN, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCGP, is the director of the department. Areas of interest: clinical epidemiology, medical education.

Wolfg`ang Himmel

WOLFGANG HIMMEL, PhD, works as senior lecturer in health sciences. Areas of interest: doctor-patient relationship; public health.