A novel approach to teaching pharmacotherapeutics--feasibility of the learner-centered student-run clinic.
Medical students should be better prepared for their future role as prescribers. A new educational concept to achieve this is learning by doing. This encompasses legitimate, context-based training and gives students responsibility as early as possible in their medical education. Student-run clinics (SRCs) are an example of this concept.


OBJECTIVE
Describe the development of a new SRC for insured patients, primarily focused on medical (pharmacotherapy) education, the learner-centered student-run clinic (LC-SRC), and its feasibility.


METHODS
Teams each comprising of three students (first, third, and fifth year) performed consultations including proposing management plans, all under the supervision of an internist. Patients were voluntary selected from the internal medicine outpatient clinic for follow-up in the LC-SRC. Feasibility was evaluated using a set of questionnaires for patients, supervisors, and students.


RESULTS
In total, 31 consultations were conducted; 31 students and 4 clinical specialists participated. A pharmacotherapeutic treatment plan was drawn up in 33 % of the consultations. Patients were content with the care provided and rated the consultation with a 7.9 (SD 1.21) (1(min)-10(max)). Supervisors regarded LC-SRC safe for patients with guaranteed quality of care. They found the LC-SRC a valuable tool in medical education although it was time-consuming. Students appreciated their (new) responsibility for patient care and considered the LC-SRC a very valuable extracurricular activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The LC-SRC is feasible, and all participants considered it to be a valuable educational activity. It offers students the opportunity to learn in a real interprofessional and longitudinal setting for their future role as prescriber in clinical practice. The benefits and learner effects need to be investigated in a larger study with a longer follow-up.
Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacotherapy Section, VU University Medical Center, room PK 1X74, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ramon S
RS
Dekker
Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacotherapy Section, VU University Medical Center, room PK 1X74, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.schutte@vumc.nl.|RECIPE (Research and Expertise Center In Pharmacotherapy Education), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.schutte@vumc.nl.
Tim
T
Schutte
Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacotherapy Section, VU University Medical Center, room PK 1X74, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|RECIPE (Research and Expertise Center In Pharmacotherapy Education), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jelle
J
Tichelaar
Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abel
A
Thijs
Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacotherapy Section, VU University Medical Center, room PK 1X74, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|RECIPE (Research and Expertise Center In Pharmacotherapy Education), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Michiel A
MA
van Agtmael
Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacotherapy Section, VU University Medical Center, room PK 1X74, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|RECIPE (Research and Expertise Center In Pharmacotherapy Education), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Theo P G M
TP
de Vries
Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacotherapy Section, VU University Medical Center, room PK 1X74, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|RECIPE (Research and Expertise Center In Pharmacotherapy Education), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Milan C
MC
Richir
D004358:Drug Therapy; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D005791:Patient Care; D010361:Patients; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Context-based learning; Medical education; Pharmacotherapy; Student-run clinic