An evaluation study of the didactic quality of clerkships.
BACKGROUND
Previous qualitative research at the University of Antwerp revealed dissatisfaction amongst medical students about clinical clerkships.


OBJECTIVE
To use quantitative methods to further explore student perceptions of their clinical teaching. METHOD, SAMPLE AND SETTING: Monthly questionnaire administered to final-year medical students at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.


RESULTS
The response rate was 83.9%. Many of the qualitative findings were reproduced. Educational resources were not optimally used. The junior doctor was the most important clinical teacher. Many activities were passive experiences. Coaching, feedback and supervision associated most with general satisfaction of the clerkship, however, these dimensions were often considered suboptimal.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical clerkships do not automatically provide an ideal learning environment for medical students.
Remmen
R
R
Department of General Practice, University of Antwerp, Belgium. remmen@uia.ua.ac.be
Denekens
J
J
Scherpbier
A
A
Hermann
I
I
van der Vleuten
C
C
Royen
P V
PV
Bossaert
L
L
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*