Validating the Value of a Preceptorship and Exposing Students to Core Family Medicine Principles

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Validating the Value of a Preceptorship and
Exposing Students to Core Family Medicine
Principles

• 41st Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
  Annual Spring Conference
• Baltimore, MD
• May 1, 2008

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Southern Illinois University School of
MedicineDepartment of Family Community
MedicinePredoctoral Education

• Julie Robbs, MA
• Amber Barnhart, MD
• Harald Lausen, DO, MA

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GOAL

• Validation that our 5-week preceptorship is a
  valuable learning experience for students in the
  required 6-week Family Medicine clerkship
• Increases students knowledge about core Family
  Medicine principles

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Clerkship Objectives

• To introduce students to the breadth and scope
  of family medicine, including the psychosocial
  and procedural aspects, particularly as they
  apply to ambulatory care. The clerkship uses
  structured learning experiences in the actual
  task environment of practicing family physicians.
  It emphasizes integration of comprehensive
  ambulatory care with community health and
  resources.

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Student Pre/Post Survey

• 2004-2008 Administration to clerkship students
• Administered during orientation and prior
• to beginning of preceptorship (Week 1 Day 1)
• Administered upon return from preceptorship and
  prior to assessment activities (Week 6 Day 1)

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Pre/Post Preceptorship Survey Questions

• Prior to/As a result of the clerkship I feel I
  have
• Acquired knowledge of undifferentiated and
  commonly seen medical problems
• Acquired appreciation for family medicine
• Acquired knowledge of the application of health
  promotion, disease prevention, and patient
  education

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Pre/Post Preceptorship Survey Questions

• Prior to/As a result of the clerkship I feel I
  have
• 4. Experienced the importance of family dynamics
  in patient care
• 5. Acquired knowledge of the business aspects of
  medical practice
• 6. Decided to consider a career in Family Medicine

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Evaluation Tool

• Five-Point Likert Scale with
• 1Strongly Disagree to 5Strongly Agree
• Surveys were blinded to the faculty secretary
  coded in order to match each student with his/her
  pre/post survey

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Pre-Post Table
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Results

• Results of the survey show that the intervention,
  the preceptorship in the FM clerkship, has some
  influence on their outlook on FM, particularly on
  acquiring knowledge of the business aspects of
  medical practice
• Significant difference over 30 items except Q6
• Mean Differences range from .37 to 1.92 point
  difference
• Q5 shows a good consistency that students are
  learning business aspects while with their
  preceptor.

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Questions Thank you