Quantification of training in educational methodology among teachers on the degree course in medicine: a pilot study

Abstract

Background Medical education has undergone significant changes over the last decades. Scientific and technological progress alongside contemporary society’s changing requirements have driven demand for highly trained, competent doctors. In response to this need, university faculties of medicine have sought innovative forms of teaching and evaluating the students on their degree courses. The aim of this study was to quantify the characteristics and extent of academic training in teaching methods, of participation in innovative teaching initiatives, and training in simulation and debriefing among the teaching personnel on the degree course in medicine at the University of Granada (Spain). Methods This transversal descriptive study was conducted among a population of 121 educators teaching on the medical degree course at the University of Granada, Spain. All responded to a specially designed CoRe-Content Representation questionnaire. This consisted of various parts: (a) demographic data; (b) teaching experience and qualifications; (c) specific information about training in teaching skills received. The Fisher test was applied whenever the dependent variable had two values (dichotomous) and the Chi-square test when it had more than two values (polytomic). Statistical significance was established with an alpha error of 5%. Results The results showed that 87.60% of the educators had received no training in debriefing. There was a notable gender gap, whereby women held fewer management posts, fewer were engaged in clinical activity, and fewer had undergone training in clinical simulation. Teachers with degrees in medicine had undergone less regulated training than educators with other degree qualifications. Conclusion The main areas of medical training that require improvement (and so present challenges to be met in the years to come) are as follows: a definitive solution to the existing gender gap, general implementation of new educational models and methods (especially learning based on clinical problem-solving and simulation), closing generation gaps, and improved training processes for educators with clinical attachment.