Evaluation of a change from traditional case studies to patient-based, problem-based learning: a case study

A traditional case studies model of clinical learning is in current use for year IV students in the School of Medicine at the Flinders University of South Australia. Consistent problems with the course were resulting in a failure to meet its learning objectives. Therefore, the Case Studies course was used to develop a model of clinical learning using a problem-based learning approach. The learning was focused on hospital inpatients and their problems rather than clinico-pathological issues in isolation. The learning model was enthusiastically received by a small group of year IV students who were unused to the problem-based learning tutorial process. The overall outcomes encouraged wider introduction into the year IV programme in the following year.