The positive effect of student-oriented clinical clerkship rounds employing role-play and peer review on the clinical performance and professionalism of clerkship students

Abstract

Background: Role-play (RP) and peer review (PR) are occasionally used in training and evaluating communication skills in clinical clerkship (CC). Thus, we evaluated the effect of combining RP and PR during student-oriented CC rounds.

Methods: Clerkship students conducted medical interviews with and performed physical examinations on their patients, which were reviewed by five peer students who observed their performance while role-playing as senior physicians or patients’ families. The peer reviewers then provided feedback to the students. The performance of the students was evaluated based on a mini-clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX) and a professionalism mini-evaluation exercise (P-MEX) before and after the rounds by two attending physicians. After the CC, the students responded to questionnaires about the rounds.

Results: Seventy-five students completed the rounds, and the duration of each round was 41.7 ± 7.1 min. Their communication skills and professionalism abilities on Mini-CEX and P-MEX showed significant improvement after the rounds. Improvements in medical interviewing and physical examinations were also noted. Additionally, the students recognized the importance of multiple viewpoints in patient care through experiences of the rounds.

Conclusions: Combining RP and PR with CC rounds improves the students’ clinical performance and professionalism and promotes their awareness of the importance of multiple viewpoints in patient care.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Glossary

Student-oriented clinical clerkship rounds: The hospital ward rounds in clinical clerkship combined role-play and peer review.

In the rounds, clerkship students conducted medical interviews with and performed physical examinations on their patients, which were reviewed by peer students who observed their performance while role-playing as senior physicians or patients’ families. The peer reviewers then provided feedback to the students. The rounds improve the students’ clinical performance and professionalism and promotes their awareness of the importance of multiple viewpoints in patient care.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hajime Kasai

Hajime Kasai, M.D., is an internist and Ph.D. He is in charge of the clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital.

Shoichi Ito

Shoichi Ito, M.D., is not only a certified medical education specialist from the Japan Society for Medical Education, but also a neurologist and Ph.D. He is in charge of the clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital and School of Medicine, Chiba University.

Hiroshi Tajima

Hiroshi Tajima, M.D., is an internist. He assists in clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital.

Yukiko Takahashi

Yukiko Takahashi, M.D., is an internist. She assists in clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital.

Yoriko Sakurai

Yoriko Sakurai, M.D., is an internist. She assists in clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital.

Naoko Kawata

Naoko Kawata is an internist and Ph.D. She assists in clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital.

Harutoshi Sugiyama

Harutoshi Sugiyama is an internist and Ph.D. He assists in clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital.

Mayumi Asahina

Mayumi Asahina, M.D., is not only a certified medical education specialist from the Japan Society for Medical Education, but also a neurologist and Ph.D. She is in charge of the clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital and School of Medicine, Chiba University.

Ikuko Sakai

Ikuko Sakai, R.N., Ph.D., is in charge of clinical teaching education at Chiba University Hospital and School of Nursing, Chiba University.

Koichiro Tatsumi

Koichiro Tatsumi, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of the Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University.