title: Resource utilisation patterns of third-year medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of published learning objectives for generally accepted clinical competencies, little evidence-based data exist regarding how clerkship students achieve them. We queried how clerkship students' learning resource use correlates with clerkship outcomes. However, little evidence-based data exist regarding how to accomplish these goals. We queried how clerkship students' learning resource use correlates with clerkship outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 130 students at the end of their in-patient internal medicine clerkship. Questionnaires investigated resource utilisation, study methods and knowledge acquisition goals, using 1-5 Likert scale (1 = never; 5 = always).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most students used UpToDate to prepare for attending physician rounds and to admit patients (64 and 67%, respectively), but not for exam preparation. Using question books for exam preparation was associated with a significant improvement in scores (77 versus 72%, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students' resource utilisation varies by clinical situation and knowledge acquisition goals. Students using question books had better examination performances.
authors.affiliation: General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, USA. coopera@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Elnicki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003625:Data Collection; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013337:Students, Medical