Enhancement of medical student performance through narrative reflective practice: a pilot project

Authors

  • Alan Thomson University of Western Ontario
  • Dwight Harley University of Alberta
  • Marie Cave University of Alberta
  • Jean Clandinin University of Alberta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.36592

Keywords:

Objective measures of competence, narrative inquiry, medical education

Abstract

Background: Narrative Reflective Practice (NRP) is a process that helps medical students become better listeners and physicians. We hypothesized that NRP would enhance students’ performance on multiple choice question exams (MCQs), on objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), and on subjective clinical evaluations (SCEs).

Methods: The MCQs, OSCEs and SCEs test scores from 139 third year University of Alberta medical students from the same class doing their Internal Medicine rotation were collected over a 12 month period. All preceptors followed the same one-hour clinical teaching format, except for the single preceptor who incorporated 2 weeks of NRP in the usual clinical teaching of 16 students. The testing was done at the end of each 8-week rotation, and all students within each cohort received the same MCQs, OSCE and SCEs

Results: Independent t-tests were used to assess group differences in the mean MCQ, OSCE and SCE scores. The group receiving NRP training scored 4.7 % higher on the MCQ component than those who did not. The mean differences for OSCE and SCE scores were non-significant.

Conclusions: Two weeks NRP exposure produced an absolute increase in students’ MCQ score. Longer periods of NRP exposure may also increase the OSCE and SCE scores. This promising pilot project needs to be confirmed using several trained preceptors and trainees at different levels of their clinical experience.


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Author Biographies

Alan Thomson, University of Western Ontario

Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine

Dwight Harley, University of Alberta

Division of Studies in Medical Education, Director/Psychometrics

Marie Cave, University of Alberta

Coordinator, Behavioral Medicine, Department of Family Medicine

 

Jean Clandinin, University of Alberta

Professor Elementary Education,

Centre for Research for Teacher Education and Development

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Published

2013-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Thomson A, Harley D, Cave M, Clandinin J. Enhancement of medical student performance through narrative reflective practice: a pilot project. Can. Med. Ed. J [Internet]. 2013 Mar. 31 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];4(1):e69-e74. Available from: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/36592

Issue

Section

Brief Reports