Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Training and Evaluating Clinical Observation Skills in Pre-clerkship Medical Students

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Medical Science Educator Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Observation remains an essential tool for physicians. Many medical schools have implemented visual observation training programs using art. In this study, pre-clerkship medical students attended three instructional sessions at an art museum, and three physician-led sessions using projected clinical images for training. Descriptive narratives of clinical images were written pre- and post-intervention; these were scored by two reviewers using a 1-to-5 scoring rubric developed for this study. This builds upon previous studies which utilized qualitative analysis without a standard evaluation rubric. Results indicated that participants improved visual observation skills, and a satisfaction survey indicated they enjoyed participating.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. Seventy students agreed to participate in this study. Those who did not complete all the requirements of the study, including the pre- and posttests and six training sessions for those in groups A and B, were not included in the analysis.

  2. Group comparisons account for unequal pretest scores: despite randomization, average pretest scores were group A (\( \overset{-}{x} \) = 2.602), group B (\( \overset{-}{x} \) = 2.568), and group C (\( \overset{-}{x} \) = 2.636).

References

  1. MH S. The physical examination. In: Textbook of physical diagnosis: history and examination. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2014. p. 73–7.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bickley LS, Szilagyi PG, Bates B. Overview: physical examination and history taking. In: Bates’ guide to physical examination and history-taking. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013. pp. 1–23.

  3. Kassirer JP, Wong JB, Kopelman RI. Diagnostic hypothesis generation. In: Learning clinical reasoning. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health; 2010. p. 8–10.

    Google Scholar 

  4. IM B. To see or not to see: how visual training can improve observational skills. Clin Dermatol. 2011;29(3):343–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Katz JT, Khoshbin S. Can visual arts training improve physician performance? Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2014;125:331–41.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Friedlaender GE, Friedlaender LK. Art in science: enhancing observational skills. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2013;471(7):2065–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Jasani SK, Saks NS. Utilizing visual art to enhance the clinical observation skills of medical students. Med Teach. 2013;35(7):e1327–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Klugman CM, Peel J, Beckmann-Mendez D. Art rounds: teaching interprofessional students visual thinking strategies at one school. Acad Med. 2011;86(10):1266–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Miller A, Grohe M, Khoshbin S, JT K. From the galleries to the clinic: applying Art Museum lessons to patient care. J Med Humanit. 2013;34(4):433–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Schaff PB, Isken S, RM T. From contemporary art to core clinical skills: observation, interpretation, and meaning-making in a complex environment. Acad Med. 2011;86(10):1272–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. WB B. Sir William Osler, aphorisms from his bedside teachings and writings collected by Robert Bennett Bean, M.D. New York: Henry Schuman Inc,; 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Shapiro J, Rucker L, Beck J. Training the clinical eye and mind: using the arts to develop medical students’ observational and pattern recognition skills. Med Educ. 2006;40(3):263–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Yang KT, Lin CC, LY C. A program to interest medical students in Changhua, Taiwan in the incorporation of visual arts in medicine. Educ Health (Abingdon). 2011;24(3):563.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bardes CL, Gillers D, Herman AE. Learning to look: developing clinical observation skills at an art museum. Med Educ. 2001;35(12):1157–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Dolev JC, Friedlaender LK, Braverman IM. Use of fine art to enhance visual diagnostic skills. JAMA. 2001;286(9):1020–1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Naghshineh S, Hafler JP, Miller AR, Blanco MA, Lipsitz SR, Dubroff RP, Khoshbin S, Katz JT. Formal art observation training improves medical students’ visual diagnostic skills. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(7):991–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Elder NC, Tobias B, Lucero-Ciswell A, Goldenhar L. The art of observation: impact of a family medicine and art museum partnership on student education. Fam Med. 2006;38(6):393–8.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Roy Carman MD, Jenevieve DeLosSantos PhD, Liesel Copeland PhD, Kerry O’Rourke MLS, Robert Lebeau EdD - and especially Donna Gustafson PhD and the Rutgers University Zimmerli Art Museum- for their assistance in making this project possible.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane, Room V-01, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Kimberly A. Lynch & Norma S. Saks

Authors
  1. Kimberly A. Lynch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Norma S. Saks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Norma S. Saks.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lynch, K.A., Saks, N.S. Training and Evaluating Clinical Observation Skills in Pre-clerkship Medical Students. Med.Sci.Educ. 26, 539–542 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-016-0303-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-016-0303-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation