Poster2-09: IS PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING (PBL) THE PROPER METHOD TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SURGICAL PRACTICE; FINAL-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS AND INTERNS PERSPECTIVE
Mohammed S. Al-Rowais, MD¹, Mohammad Alawad, MD, MPH², Shahad Alharbi, MD¹, Mohammed F. Abalhassan, MD³, Thamer Bin Traiki, MD¹; ¹King Saud University, ²King Saud Medical City, ³Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University Hospitals

Introduction: Problem-Based learning (PBL) is a relatively newly implemented method of teaching in Saudi Arabia. However, students and interns’ competence never been measured after adopting this learning system. Surgery is a field that requires fast decision-making based on solid combination of basic sciences, clinical judgment, and technical abilities. We are reviewing final-year medical students and interns’ perspective on how effective PBL is to prepare them to handle surgical patients in their practice.

Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional study targeting the first two years after applying PBL; interns and final-year medical students at King Saud University. Data was obtained using Likert-type scale questionnaire. SAS was used for data management and statistical analysis.

Results: Total of 91 responses were received, 45% were final-year medical students while 55% were interns. Among the sample, 66% agreed that PBL helped them to understand the theoretical part of surgery and the nature of surgical patients in the floor allowing them to take an appropriate clinical judgment in most of the cases. 43% believed that PBL played a major role in distinguishing emergency versus non-emergency surgical cases. 55% stated that PBL made them self-directed and passionate learners. 40% of the interns believed that PBL acquired them with basic surgical-skills to handle surgical patients in the floor and assist in the ORs.

Discussion: This study intended to evaluate the educational system essentials for the academic development among medical-students and interns. To our knowledge, this research is the first study in Gulf-countries to evaluate the outcomes of PBL in surgical practice based on students and interns feedback.

Conclusion: PBL played a positive role in understanding the learning defects in surgery. Most of the students believed that understanding the theoretical part in surgical diseases was not an issue. This data suggests that more focus on real clinical aspect especially in surgical emergencies as well as surgical-skills sessions might be needed to achieve the best PBL learning objectives.

Take-Home Message: PBL is an effective method to prepare medical students and interns to general practice. In surgery, shedding more light on day-to-day surgical cases and hands-on practical sessions might attribute to better outcomes.