Bench work and clinical relevance: a new strategy in pathology education.
BACKGROUND
It is recognised that medical students' perceptions of pathology can be improved by presenting pathology curricula in a clinically oriented manner. This study investigated how pathology teaching could be made more clinically relevant, using the coagulation laboratory practical for Year 2 students at the Australian National University Medical School as a case study, with a particular focus on the role of laboratory bench work.


METHODS
An e-survey was posted to 80 medical students who participated in the coagulation practical in 2005, followed by in-depth interviews for four consenting students. Four teachers were also interviewed to obtain additional perspectives.


RESULTS
Students and teachers showed markedly different views of the clinical relevance of the practical; however, most were in favour of bench work. Greater clinical orientation was the predominant objective identified to improve the practical. Incorporation of laboratory bench-work within case-based sessions, in small group settings, were the strategies recommended to achieve these.


CONCLUSIONS
A model for a 2 hour laboratory practical is proposed, involving a case-based session incorporating bench work, followed by case discussion to integrate laboratory results with clinical management. This approach is likely to be effective in pathology teaching across all disciplines.
Talaulikar
Dipti
D
Department of Haematology, The Canberra Hospital, Yamba Drive, Garran, Canberra, ACT 2606, Australia. dipti.talaulikar@act.gov.au
Akerlind
Gerlese
G
Potter
Julia M
JM
D001315:Australia; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*