[How do medical students judge preclinical studies? Results of questionnaire analysis after the 1st and 2d year of studies].
OBJECTIVE
For some years the evaluation of medical teaching has been demanded. In addition to questioning individual teachers, comparisons have to be made, but only a high response rate will provide representative results. A questionnaire study of medical students at the Hannover School of Medicine was undertaken to assess attendance at lectures, reasons for absence, importance of courses and practicals for passing preclinical examinations and as preparation for clinical studies.


METHODS
Questionnaires were given to two groups of students in the summer term of 1996, a) after the first year and b) after concluding the preclinical course.


RESULTS
The response rate for the two years was 92 and 87%, respectively. The reasons given for a high absentee rate at some lectures were, first of all, lack of time especially in the natural sciences--physics, chemistry and biology--but also in medical psychology, medical sociology and terminology, and secondly their lack of relevance to the clinical course. However, especially high acceptance and clinical relevance was assigned to gross anatomy. A high percentage of students were also in employment at the same time, mostly in medicine-related jobs (87%). Most students wanted continuous assessment in their compulsory subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular and representative questioning of students should provide encouragement for improving the medical course and a basis for ideas on reform.
Strate
J
J
Abteilung Akademische Angelegenheiten, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
Rothkötter
H J
HJ
Pabst
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires