Workplan
Student progress is tracked by conducting annual evaluations. The study sample consists of students who began their education in the fall 2006 at the medical faculties of the Universities of Oulu and Turku. At the University of Oulu, 120 students began their studies in the degree programme for the Licentiate in Medicine degree while 45 students began in the Licentiate in Dentistry degree programme. In addition, 26 students at Turku began studies to be retrained from nurses to physicians.
In a pilot study conducted in 2005, the cross-sectional study design was used. For the current main study, which began in 2006, the longitudinal study design was adopted.
The same sample of students is followed up over the period of their studies. The challenge is that the long duration of the study demands commitment. Repeated measurements also affect the results.
Methods used in the study:
I: The IGSO (Inventory of General Study Orientations) measurement of the students’ study orientation will be conducted in the spring term of the first, third and sixth year of study.
II: A mind map is used to investigate the student’s ability to organise medical knowledge into wholes at different stages of medical education. A mind map assignment will be performed in the fall term of the first year of study and at the end of each academic year. The content of the assignments will be modified for the various stages of the evaluation process according to a plan.
III: A case assignment will be performed in the fall term of the first year of study and at the end of each academic year. The content of the assignments will be modified for the various stages of the evaluation process according to a plan. Sample patient cases are used to investigate the students’ ability to draw on organised bodies of knowledge, to apply medical knowledge and skills to practice, and to comply with professional ethics and enacted regulations in patient encounters.
IV: Medical students will name five characteristics that best describe the characteristics of a good physician. Assignment will be performed in the fall term of the first year of study and at the end of each academic year.