Discusses the problem-based learning format as it relates to the education of medical students. Describes key objectives in the education of physicians and questions how effective medical schools are in achieving those key objectives using a problem-based format. (CCM)

Pre/posttest data on 40 physicians who completed problem-based clinical scenarios on osteoporosis revealed that 39 showed improvement or modest change in postworkshop scores, especially in terms of management of male patients, determination of risk factors, and use and interpretation of bone density tests. (SK)

At Linkoping University, medical education focused on problem-based learning was introduced, with an unchanged budget, but a new method of resource management. The point system for teaching and administrative tasks gives better control of resources and increases departments' motivation to participate. (SK)

Explains the importance of evidence based medical education and how quantitative outcome studies are favored in medical education. Argues that evidence from ethnography can provide valuable insight into medical education using the introduction of a problem based learning (PBL) curriculum as an example. Includes 42 references. (Author/YDS)

Uses qualitative methods to examine a peer-tutoring model from the perspective of the student tutor. Reports that students struggled with basic facilitation skills and had difficulty separating the role of student from that of tutor. (Author/YDS)

The second preclinical year of the medical curriculum at the Medical Faculty of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland includes nine multidisciplinary organ-system-oriented modules consisting of lectures and problem-based-learning tutorials. This study reports the experience accumulated with the evaluation of lectures during the academic years…

In this work, we describe the use of several strategies employing the philosophies of active learning and problem-based learning (PBL) that may be used to improve the teaching of metabolic biochemistry to medical and nutritional undergraduate students. The main activities are as follows: 1) a seminar/poster system in a mini-congress format (using…

Research on Problem-Based Learning in medical education has undergone an evolutionary process from initial proof of concept studies through critiques of the original methods and beyond. Initial studies focused on whether or not the instructional method was effective for medical students and the goals of medical education. Despite much movement…

Introduction: Racially segregated schooling, a legacy of Apartheid policies, continues to hamper education in South Africa. Students entering university from suboptimal circumstances are at significant risk of demonstrating poor academic performance and dropping out of their programmes. Attempts to address the educational needs of these students…

Classroom discourse analysis has contributed to understandings of the nature of student-teacher interactions, and how learning takes place in the classroom; however, much of this work has been undertaken in teacher-directed learning contexts. Student-centred classrooms such as problem-based learning (PBL) approaches are increasingly common in…

Describes the difficulties Argentina's medical schools are likely to face in implementing a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum. Outlines the basic requirements for successful implementation of PBL curricula and describes the contradiction in Argentina between a health care system that forces specialization and the efforts of medical schools…

Reviews literature on problem-based learning in health sciences. Describes characteristics, outcomes, and implementation strategies and discusses the potential for problem-based learning in nursing education. (Contains 56 references.) (SK)

Evaluates the implementation of a curriculum that married a lecture-based first year program with a problem-based curriculum in the second year. Demonstrates how this unusual curricular structure was successful in improving students' perceptions of and performance in basic sciences. (Author/CCM)

The University of Manchester's problem-based medical education was anticipated to increase clinical-reasoning skills. Students generally approved of the change but suggested modifications. More work needed to be done to help students become self-directed learners. (SK)

Describes the characteristics and aims of problem-based learning (PBL) and reports on its application in medical and engineering education at Maastricht University (the Netherlands) and the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (the Netherlands). Analyzes differences between the medical and engineering applications. Also considers project work and…