The Development of Cognitive and Affective Skills Through a Sexual and Reproductive Health Medical Education Unit

Abstract

Introduction: Although better medical training on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is an unquestionable global need, and recent research has emphasized the importance of SRH education, few studies have presented alternative teaching models to conventional approaches. Aim: To examine the structure and evaluation of a curricular unit that uses an active teaching and learning strategy, and to evaluate both the cognitive and affective student learning outcomes. Methods: This study used retrospective and cross-sectional analyses of a curricular unit with 8 weekly lessons structured into individual activities before the class, group activities monitored in class, feedback, and the development of medical empathy. Main Outcome Measure: Student performance was evaluated through summative and formative activities. The process was evaluated quantitatively by a questionnaire containing Likert-type and open-ended questions with speech analysis and with categorical evaluation. Results: The final average of the analyzed group was 7.95 ± 0.5 on a scale of 10. Likert-type assessment (Cronbach's α = 0.86) revealed strong student adherence and, through responses to open-ended questions, positive evaluations of the proposed SRH teaching model. The Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy showed a high index of self-reported general empathy (117.3 ± 11), with a significantly higher index for female students (P = .019) than male students; however, this gender difference disappeared after the intervention (P = .086). Conclusions: The curriculum model was developed and continuously adjusted based on grounded theory for teaching SRH and included both cognitive and affective stimuli; the results showed favorable student evaluation of the unit, and it proved feasible to implement in the time available.de Oliveira R, Montagna E, Zaia V, et al. The Development of Cognitive and Affective Skills Through a Sexual and Reproductive Health Medical Education Unit. Sex Med 2019;7:326–336. Key Words: Empathy, Graduate Education in Medicine, Population Genetics, Sexual and Reproductive Health