Falls and Fall Prevention

Abstract

Abstract This workshop is intended to promote and enhance active learning and problem-solving among third-year medical students. At our institution, we decided to transform the existing didactic and case-based falls/fall-prevention workshop into a team-based learning (TBL) format, integrating two minimum geriatric competencies and the latest evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) on fall prevention into a 2-week required geriatric clerkship. The use of a standardized patient with the students is similar to a case-based workshop. Methods One to three days prior to the workshop, the instructor emails every student the clerkship introduction, learning objectives, and required prereading materials. During the workshop, the instructor reviews the goals, objectives, and TBL logistics. Students are divided into two teams. Individual students complete the individual Readiness Assurance Test (RAT), then join their teams and take the group RAT. The instructor leads a discussion of the RAT. Next, the class does the first Group Application Exercise (GAE), based on a simulated case, followed by a second GAE, which is a role-play. Finally, the instructor wraps up the session. The workshop is 1.5 hours long and can be used in a small or large group. Results The workshop was well accepted and rated 4.19 on a scale of 1-5 by 150 third-year medical students. Discussion This module can be used by other clerkships (internal medicine, family medicine, neurology) for a fourth-year elective or postgraduate medical education. The author noted very few TBL workshops in internal medicine, psychiatry, or OB-GYN clerkships and most in the required geriatrics clerkship. This module can become a template for other medical educators to develop similar workshops.

Keywords

• TBL
• Team-Based Learning
• Medical
• Accidental Falls
• Fall Prevention
• Older Adults