title: Evaluation of effectiveness of instruction and study habits in two consecutive clinical semesters of the medical curriculum Munich (MeCuM) reveals the need for more time for self study and higher frequency of assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seven years after implementing a new curriculum an evaluation was performed to explore possibilities for improvements.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze students' study habits in relation to exam frequency and to evaluate effectiveness of instruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time spent on self study (TSS) and the quantity of instruction (QI) was assessed during the internal medicine and the surgical semester. Students and faculty members were asked about study habits and their evaluation of the current curriculum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TSS/QI ratio as a measure of effectiveness of instruction ranges mainly below 1.0 and rises only prior to exams. Students and teachers prefer to have multiple smaller exams over the course of the semester. Furthermore, students wish to have more time for self-guided study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TSS/QI ratio is predominantly below the aspired value of 1.0. Furthermore, the TSS/QI ratio is positively related to test frequency. We therefore propose a reduction of compulsory lessons and an increase in test frequency.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Munich Hospitals, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. sophia.mueller@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weichert
authors.forename: Veit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stoecklein
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammitzsch
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pascuito
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siebeck
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidmaier
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000592:standards*