PROMOTING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL INTEGRATION IN MEDICAL EDUCATION: IMPACT OF A SEPTIC SHOCK CASE STUDY ON PRECLINICAL STUDENTS’ LEARNING
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Keywords
Clinical reasoning, Horizontal integration, Verticalintegration, Interdisciplinary case study, Physiology
Abstract
Medical students who aim to develop clinical reasoning skills must use information from various old subjects and new fields together. Experts have recognized two kinds of integration: horizontal which means combining several subjects to study one area and vertical, when the basic sciences are used with clinical practice. Rather than concentrating solely on major curriculum reforms, our approach targets modest scale joining of subjects and closely evaluates whether our approach works through the use of case studies. After completing the basic sciences module organized by organ systems, a group discussion on a critically ill patient took place. A cardiologist, pulmonologist and nephrologist were in charge of the conversation and led it toward a case of a patient who had suffered from septic shock and several complications. The session pointed out how the body responds physically and how shifts in various systems might affect decisions about treating the patient. Students were also shown the relationships among the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems which had been taught separately before. Once the session was over, the students responded to three open-ended questions on a brief and confidential survey to let us know how they felt about the learning experience.
The program helped participants explore both the physiological aspects and the uses of basic science for clinical purposes, in both horizontal and vertical integration. Feedback from students was very good, with many finding that the exercise helped them relate the material from multiple organ systems and respected the importance of physiology in treating diseases. Integration across business units can be examined effectively with just one case study. Such cases where multiple organ systems are involved give students a good opportunity to understand different topics together and learn the big role physiology plays in medicine. Moreover, when many doctors with different specialties work together, students learn that organ systems and disciplines are connected.
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Blessy V
Assistant Professor, Prathima Relief Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagunur, Karimnagar- 505417, India
Dr E Sravani
Assistant Professor, Prathima Relief Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagunur, Karimnagar- 505417, India
Dr T P Ganga Gayathri Devi
Assistant Professor, Deportment of Physiology, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry 605502, India