title: Bench work and clinical relevance: a new strategy in pathology education.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, The Canberra Hospital, Yamba Drive, Garran, Canberra, ACT 2606, Australia. dipti.talaulikar@act.gov.au
authors.forename: Dipti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talaulikar
authors.forename: Gerlese
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akerlind
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Potter
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*