AUTHOR=Sullivan Clare , Condron Claire , Mulhall Claire , Almulla Mohammad , Kelly Maria , O'Leary Daire , Eppich Walter 

TITLE=Preparing for Pediatrics: Experiential Learning Helps Medical Students Prepare for Their Clinical Placement

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.834825

DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.834825

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Despite the importance of effective communication skills in pediatrics, clinical placements may inadequately prepare undergraduate students to communicate with children. The integration of non-clinical interactions with healthy children within a pediatric curriculum has the potential to enhance learning. We designed and implemented a novel course involving experiential learning, including video-recorded consultations with simulated parents (SPs), team-based scenarios with a pediatric mannequin, interactions with healthy children through a pre-school visit and medical student led health workshops for primary school children. 

Medical students at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences took part in the course. We used a mixed methods approach to assess the impact of the course. We investigated medical students’ perspectives through a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire and post intervention focus group discussions (FGDs). We assessed participating children’s health literacy at the start of the course. 144 / 279 (51.6%) of the fourth year medical student cohort on their pediatric rotation, consented to participate in the study. All 144 (100%) of consenting students completed the pre-intervention questionnaire.  59 / 144 (40.1%) of consenting students completed the post-intervention questionnaire. Results showed a statistically significant improvement in ratings (p<0.05) for items related to managing a confrontational situation involving family members, completing a psychosocial assessment with an adolescent and effectiveness using Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) when motivating patients. There was a statistically significant decrease in how students rated their comfort at using EBM when motivating patients. Four themes relating to how students experienced the intervention were identified from eight FGDs (n=35 students): Shaping Students’ Learning; Supporting Students’ Learning; Developing New Skills and Feeling More Prepared. 39 / 49 (79.6%) children completed a health literacy assessment. All questions had a high percentage of positive responses. Question 7, understanding your doctor, had the highest proportion of negative responses (27%). 

Ours is one of the first studies to design an educational intervention to enhance pediatrics teaching by combining interactions with healthy children outside of clinical setting with more traditional simulation-based approaches. We conclude that this type of intervention supports students’ learning of pediatric communication skills and enhances students’ perceived preparation for clinical placement.