Medical Skills in a Clinical Presentation-Based Curriculum - Approach to Dysphagia

Abstract

Abstract Introduction This resource guides students through a focused history and physical examination that is specific to the presenting complaint of dysphagia. These materials would be of interest to pre-clerkship clinical skills instructors who would like to teach a presentation-based, focused history and physical exam to their trainees. Methods Students prepare for the session by reviewing the exam room guide. Next, students perform the work-up of dysphagia on a standardized patient. Students then write a SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, and plan) note and debrief in a small-group discussion. Results This session have been used in our first-year medical school curriculum since our medical school opened 4 years ago. Students consistently demonstrate success in carrying out the steps of the workup of dysphagia and arrive at the correct diagnosis most of the time. Moreover, students say that this learning activity reinforces their understanding of the week's basic science content. Discussion The organization of the clinical presentation curriculum at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso allows tight integration of the basic science curriculum with clinical skills instruction. Because content coverage is built around a selected clinical problem, first-year medical students are able to engage in a diagnostic exercise on that problem at level of complexity that generally would be more appropriate for third- or fourth-year students.

Keywords

• Clinical Skills
• Physical Examination
• Clinical Competence
• Standardized Patient
• Medical History Taking
• Communication Skills