Transcript Strategies to Integrate Case Studies into Health Sciences

Strategies to
Integrate Case Studies
into Health Sciences Courses
Otto Sanchez
Holly Jones Taggart
Rachel Hostetler
Erin Banit
Faculty, Health Sciences
Faculty, Health Sciences
Student, B.Sc.N. program
UOIT Multimedia Designer
Outline

Guiding principles to integrate case studies
into our courses
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My experiences with PBL @ McMaster
University (1990-2003)
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Integrating case studies @ UOIT
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Future directions
Our questions about case studies
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Why should we use case studies in “basic” science courses
for future health professionals?
What formats of integration into our courses can we
attempt?
How can we use case studies to evaluate student
performance?
Can case studies complement or replace large-group
lectures?
Can laptop/wireless technology facilitate or improve the
use of case studies as education-enriching tools?
Our “traditional” format focuses on content
Dates
Topics
Wk1 (Sep12)
Altered cellular and tissue biology
Wk2 (Sep19)
Wk3 (Sep26)
Genetic diseases
Alterations in immunity and
inflammation
Wk4 (Oct3)
Stress and disease; Biology of pain
Wk5-6 (Oct17;Oct24)
Cancer biology
Wk7-8 (Oct31;Nov7)
Neurologic disorders
Wk9-10 (Nov14;Nov21)
Endocrine disorders
Wk 11-12 (Nov28;Dec5)
Reproductive disorders
Prime Directive for these courses:
Avoid overload!!!
Some skills to develop in these courses (I)
Some skills to develop in these courses (II)
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Critical thinking
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled,
but a fire to be ignited!”
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Critical
appraisal
Ongoing analysis of contemporary
literature, both good and bad
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Patho-clinical
integration
How can I use this knowledge
in my health profession?
Why do I need to know this?
PBL @ McMaster: The theory
Microbiology
Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
PBL
Pharmacology
Pathophysiology
PBL @ McMaster: My weekly practice
Problem
List of questions
required to
understand & help
in this problem
Learning
objectives
Journal club
Tutorial
[study group]
Case studies @ UOIT
Clinical
Applications of
Pathophysiology
Sessions
CAPS @ UOIT
Examples:
Immunity/Inflammation
Pain
Cancer
Infectious Diseases
Format:
Structured
Interrupted
Two stories about AIDS
Endorphins
Breast cancer; Tobacco & health
SARS
Initial history
Additional history
Physical assessment
Diagnostic tests
Follow-up
Open questions during session
Student performance with case studies
Components
Mark
Due Date
Online Quizzes
20%
Weekly
Mid-Term Exam
20%
October 31
Pathophysiology Research Paper
20%
November 7
Final Exam
40%
December 9-16
Pathophysiology Research Paper
Written component (40%)
Page 1. Description of Case Study (5%)
Page 2. Pathophysiology question 1 (15%)
Page 3. Pathophysiology question 2 (15%)
Page 4. Clinical relevance (point form) (5%)
Oral component (60%)
Did you understand what you wrote?
Four questions to each student (one per page)
The student perspective…
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How do students perform in:
Case study-based quizzes?
Pathophysiology Research Papers?
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What do students think about CAPS?
Future Directions: Online Case Studies
Future Directions:
“Case Integration Triangle”
Virtual
Clinical
Excursions
Simulation
Environment
Wireless
technology
Online
Case
Studies
Applicable
across
courses/levels
Simulation
Laboratory
Evaluated as
comprehensive
examinations
at advanced levels
Thank you!
[email protected]