The effectiveness of the structured clinical instruction module.
BACKGROUND
The Structured Clinical Instruction Module (SCIM) provides students with a structured educational experience related to clinical skills on a single clinical topic. This study examined the effect of the SCIM on students' performances on breast stations in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).


METHODS
Three student groups each experienced a different type of instruction about breast care and treatment (condition A = lecture; condition B = nine-station SCIM, lecture, and manual; and condition C = five-station SCIM). All students subsequently participated in a surgery OSCE that included standardized patient stations on taking a breast history and performing breast examinations.


RESULTS
One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests consistently found that the mean scores of students in conditions B and C were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of students in condition A.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the SCIM is an effective patient-based standardized instructional program that enhances the instruction of clinical skills to students.
Blue
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Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Charleston 29425-2201, USA.
Stratton
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TD
Plymale
M
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DeGnore
L T
LT
Schwartz
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RW
Sloan
D A
DA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014481:United States