From serendipity to technology: use of a web-based information and booking system to improve clinical attachments at a district general hospital

Abstract

Background: Clinical attachments form a vital part of the learning experience for medical students but may vary in educational value. This paper describes a project intended to improve the quality of attachments at a District General Hospital in Devon, UK after negative feedback was received from students.

Aims: To improve educational quality by providing information and choice for students.

Method: The intervention was to set up a wéb – based system that allowed students to view before arrival all educational opportunities available, not only in the hospital but in the surrounding district. Students were contacted by email 2 weeks before their attachment and were then able to construct their own timetable from the menu of opportunities available.

Results: The system was popular with students, recruited new providers of learning opportunities and also integrated learning across primary and secondary care.

Conclusions: The intervention encouraged a sense of ownership of the learning experience as well as maximising the use of available learning resources.

Practice points

• Clinical attachments form a vital part of medical student training but vary in educational quality.

• Conflict may arise from a clash of “discourses” between modern medical curricula emphasising active, self-directed learing styles and a traditional, “apprenticeship” based clinical environment.

• Web-based technology can be used to provide information and choice to students prior to attachments, thus increasing student autonomy and acting as a “bridge” between discourses.

• This qualitative study in a single UK health community found that such a system was workable, popular with students and also had the effect of widening the teaching base.

• The system is versatile and could be adapted to many situations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard Ayres

RICHARD AYRES MD, MMed was Undergraduate Tutor at the hospital at the time of this study. He now teaches in the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and also works as a general practitioner. His interests are in improving educational quality of clinical teaching and the sociology of medical practice.