title: Enhancing clinical skill development through an Ambulatory Medicine Teaching Programme: an evaluation study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teaching of clinical skills traditionally takes place in hospital wards and outpatient settings. However high acuity and short hospital stays means there are fewer suitable inpatients available for teaching; and time pressures limit students' involvement in other settings. The Ambulatory Medicine Programme was established to develop undergraduate medical students' clinical skills by providing increased exposure to patients with a wide range of chronic medical conditions, in a dedicated learning environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed qualitative/quantitative approach was used to evaluate the Programme. This research focuses on staff and student perspectives of teaching and learning in Ambulatory Medicine compared with inpatient and outpatient settings; identifies which teaching methods are considered most effective; and determines the transferability of learning. Patients' perspectives of being involved in student teaching are also reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results show that the programme has made a positive impact on students' development of clinical skills, which are transferable to the clinical setting. Patients enjoy being involved and find it personally satisfying.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Ambulatory Medicine Programme is an effective way of developing medical students' clinical skills by providing focussed teaching with real patients in a dedicated learning environment.
authors.affiliation: Otago University , New Zealand. lis.latta@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Latta
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tordoff
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dent
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D010465:Perception; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical