[Use of a portfolio during the second cycle of medical studies in a urology department].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce the use of a portfolio (PF) as a learning and evaluation tool for hospital medical students in a urology department.


METHODS
In the course of 6 consecutive 3-month sessions, 36 medical students each constituted a PF. After having chosen a urological topic, each student identified his/her learning needs and constructed a PF by collecting various types of information (books, medical articles, internet, orals, ...) with the aid of a tutor. The PF had to be established in the form of a series of questions asked by the student followed by answers provided by the information collected. The PF was scored (out of 20) and contributed to validation of the session. Students completed a satisfaction questionnaire.


RESULTS
All students were validated (mean score: 14.2/20). Results of the satisfaction questionnaire showed that, although no student had previously performed a PF, 27/30 expressed the desire to establish a PF for another training attachment. This questionnaire also showed that the PF helps to improve theoretical knowledge (30/36), the needs in relation to professional practice (17/36), the ability to select data (34/36), and is a good self-learning tool (36/36). The major difficulty encountered by students concerned sorting of data (26/36) and written formulation of questions and answers (35/36).


CONCLUSIONS
The PF appears to be a good learning and evaluation tool that can be used in surgical training attachments. It guides students in their personal study and highlights the quality of their reasoning.
Amsellem-Ouazana
Delphine
D
Université Paris 5-René Descartes, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpital Cochin, Service d'Urologie, Paris, France. d.amsellem-ouazana@cch.aphp.fr
Van Pee
Dominique
D
Godin
Véronique
V
D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014572:Urology / Q000193:education*