Acute Infectious Diarrhea Team-Based Learning Activity

Abstract

Abstract Introduction A team of faculty members with expertise in bacteriology, parasitology, virology, gastroenterology, and pharmacology developed this team-based learning (TBL) activity to support an interactive, learner-centered, presentation-based integrated curriculum at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. A strength of this module is the focus on diagnostic bacteriology, something that is easily overlooked in the classroom. Methods The TBL follows the standard format and allows students to practice integrating their basic science knowledge in the areas of microbiology, diagnostic bacteriology, and pharmacology to be able to diagnose and treat a patient presenting with acute diarrhea with a suspected infectious etiology. Results This TBL was implemented in modified form in the gastrointestinal course for first-year medical students at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. The average grade for the individual readiness assurance test was 78% (maximum score of 100%, minimum score of 40%). Discussion The TBL could be improved by adding an epidemiology component. A more focused TBL could be designed by concentrating on one category of pathogen (e.g., bacteria, viruses or protozoan). Another limitation is the use of UpToDate as a reading assignment. UpToDate articles are updated over time and care must be taken to examine the content to be sure that it contains all of the desired learning material.

Keywords

• TBL
• Team-Based Learning
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diarrhea