Ear-Nose-Throat Clerkship with Task-Based Learning in Ondokuz Mayis University: How Did We Do It in our First Year?: Medical Education

Abstract

In 2003, the curriculum of Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine (OMUFM) was changed according to the principles of problem-based learning (PBL). Task-based learning (TBL) was adopted for the 4(th) and 5(th) year clinical clerkships as a continuum of PBL. Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) clerkship at the OMUFM was structured according to the principles of TBL for the first time in the 2007-2008 academic years. ENT clerkship was carried out under "neck mass, nasal obstruction and hearing loss" tasks as a part of a 6-week "Sense block" in accordance with ophthalmology clerkship. Learning objectives including theoretical knowledge and practical skills were defined before each task. Lectures, bedside theoretical discussions, practical skills training and multidisciplinary meetings were carried out during the clerkship. Students were evaluat was made by multiple choice questions (40 points), patient management skills (20 points), objective structured clinical exam (20 points) and task-end grades (20 points) adding up to 100. One hundred and seven students attended the ENT clerkship in 6 groups throughout the year. One student failed due to irregular attendance, 7 students out of 9 who failed the exam at the end of the clerkship were successful at the make-up exam at the end of the year, 2 students could not pass the make-up exam. Overall success rate was 97% (104/107). ENT clerkship with TBL principles was successfully carried out at the OMUFM in the first year where the students knew the learning and practical skills objectives previously. TBL is a learning strategy where students take the responsibility of their own training, student performance can be closely monitored by the trainers and small groups of students provide a positive learning environment.