The utility of competency-oriented clinical laboratory teaching combined with case-based learning (CBL)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of competency-oriented clinical laboratory teaching combined with case-based learning (CBL) and improve the examination of students' competence of laboratory medicine.

Methods: A total of 107 medical laboratory medicine interns at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2017 to July 2019 volunteered to participate in the study and were randomly assigned into a control group with training of the traditional teacher-centered method, and an experimental group under a CBL teaching program. Student basic theory tests and skill assessment were designed to evaluate what the students gained from their internship when they completed their studies at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University.

Results: Compared to students in the control group taught with the teacher-centered method, those in the CBL teaching program had significantly higher theory test scores and skill assessment scores on average. Competencies with particularly significant improvement included identification and processing of instrument alarm information, analysis of test results, identification and solution of the problem, as well as identification and reporting of the critical value and clinical communication.

Conclusions: The competency-oriented teaching method combined with CBL is an effective method for improving students' professional knowledge, increasing language expression, and enhancing interpersonal relationship and teamwork, which is worthy of being promoted in laboratory medicine teaching.