Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1837

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Publication type: Journal Article

Mur E, Hartig F, Blumenthal-Hausmann E, Falkenbach A.
[Quality assurance in the teaching of medical students illustrated by the example of spa therapy for rheumatic diseases] .
Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2003 Dec 01; 10:(6):298-302
http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=FKM2003010006298

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The currently employed methods for quality assurance in student education are frequently considered as being inadequate. In the present study the request to plan a budget for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis is presented as an additional method to assess the influence of a teaching course on the student’s attitude towards certain interventions. How would medical students distribute financial resources for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis? Does a course ‘Excursion to a Spa’ lead to changes in budgeting by the student? MATERIAL AND METHODS: Before and after a 4-day excursion to Bad Gastein (health resort primarily for patients with rheumatic diseases) to become better acquainted with the local treatment modalities medical students in semester 8.4 +/- 3.8 (5th year in medical school) were asked how they would distribute a fixed sum of EUR 5,000.- (= 100%) for a prospective period of 5 years over 9 given forms of treatment in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis in order to provide optimal improvement of the disease and quality of life. RESULTS: Before the excursion the students distributed the budget as follows: drug therapy 15%, spa therapy 17%, physical therapy 14%, exercise therapy 19%, massage therapy 11%, unconventional therapies 5%, psychological therapy 7%, changes in the household environment 8%, private pleasure 4%. After the excursion to the spa the medical students assigned more financial means on spa therapy (p = 0.024, Wilcoxon test) and unconventional therapies (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Creating a budget for a defined disease appears to be a useful instrument for assessing the influence of a teaching course on medical students’ attitude towards certain interventions and for detecting imbalances in the presentation of therapy procedures or discrepancies between the presentation and the aims of teaching. Copyright 2003 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg

Keywords:
Complementary Therapies*/economics Complementary Therapies*/education Complementary Therapies*/standards Education, Medical/standards* English Abstract Germany Health Resorts* Humans Hydrotherapy Quality Control Rheumatic Diseases/therapy* Spondylitis, Ankylosing/therapy* Time Factors Treatment Outcome