A survey of senior medical students' attitudes and awareness toward teaching and participation in a formal clinical teaching elective: a Canadian perspective

• Published in: Medical education online 2017-01, Vol.22 (1), p.1270022-1270022
• Main Authors: Matthew Hughes, J. D., Azzi, Elise, Rose, Gregory Walter, Ramnanan, Christopher J., Khamisa, Karima
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Canada; Clinical skills; clinical teaching; Clinical training; Confidence; Cross-Sectional Studies; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Undergraduate - organization & administration; electives; Female; Group learning; Humans; Journal clubs; Male; Medical residencies; Medical schools; Medical students; Mentoring; Moderation; near-peer teaching; Peer Group; Physical examinations; Polls & surveys; Professional Competence; Self Efficacy; Short Communication; Skill development; Students; Students, Medical - psychology; Teaching; Teaching - organization & administration; Teaching - standards; Teaching methods; Trainees; undergraduate medical education; Work skills; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1087-2981; 1087-2981
• DOI: 10.1080/10872981.2016.1270022

Background: To prepare for careers in medicine, medical trainees must develop clinical teaching skills. It is unclear if Canadian medical students need or want to develop such skills. We sought to assess Canadian students' perceptions of clinical teaching, and their desire to pursue clinical teaching skills development via a clinical teaching elective (CTE) in their final year of medical school. Methods: We designed a descriptive cross-sectional study of Canadian senior medical students, using an online survey to gauge teaching experience, career goals, perceived areas of confidence, and interest in a CTE. Results: Students at 13 of 17 Canadian medical schools were invited to participate in the survey (4154 students). We collected 321 responses (7.8%). Most (75%) respondents expressed confidence in giving presentations, but fewer were confident providing bedside teaching (47%), teaching sensitive issues (42%), and presenting at journal clubs (42%). A total of 240 respondents (75%) expressed interest in participating in a CTE. The majority (61%) favored a two week elective, and preferred topics included bedside teaching (85%), teaching physical examination skills (71%), moderation of small group learning (63%), and mentorship in medicine (60%). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that a large number of Canadian medical students are interested in teaching in a clinical setting, but lack confidence in skills specific to clinical teaching. Our respondents signaled interest in participating in an elective in clinical teaching, particularly if it is offered in a two-week format.