A correlation study of students' perception of their active role as related to their clerkship experiences

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated the importance of students' active involvement in clinical learning. The present study examined medical students' active participation in clinical clerkships as related to their ratings of clerkship experiences. The general hypothesis is that students' perception of being active in the clerkship will be positively related to their experience with attendings and residents and to their overall satisfaction with their clerkship experience. This hypothesis was examined in teaching rounds, work rounds and in conferences, and was confirmed in the study. Future study may be needed to explore specific approaches to bring students into an active process in different clinical learning settings.