A multi-faceted approach in pathology teaching to year three medical undergraduates

Introduction Pathology is the basis of medicine and forms the building blocks of medicine. It is the foundation on which students build their understanding of clinical conditions. Thus, it is very important that students’ foundation of learning pathology is strong and the students are given a good start to understand medicine and become competent doctors. Aims A multi-faceted approach in pathology teaching to year three medical students was initiated to achieve the following aims: to influence students’ approach to learning, to give students a realtime experience, to teach students to learn to gather information at their own pace and way, and to maintain a sustained interest in them such that we impart in students a culture of self-directed learning. Methods The methods of teaching used include blackboard online clinic-pathological case (CPC) learning, interactive CPC tutorials, real-time experience in laboratory visits, attending full autopsies, and pathological quizzes with incentives. Evaluation forms were given to students for the teaching they received. Results The students rated highly the CPCs tutorials with a mean rate of 5.27 over a score of 1 to 6. Students were highly appreciative of the pathology quizzes and gave a mean score of 5.0. The students also felt they had received great value from participating in the laboratory visits and morgue visits. Similarly, the students felt that a visit to the morgue to attend autopsies should be made compulsory in the medical curriculum. Conclusion A multi-faceted approach in pathology teaching to undergraduates is recommended over the routine class room teaching.