Practical teaching of behavioral sciences to medical students

Abstract

Introduction

The teaching of behavioral sciences was in form of lectures to the medical students in the 2nd year of the college, because the lecture is the least beneficial method of teaching. As I have noticed also that students were more interested to practice behavioral skills. So I suggested to the authority of the faculty to teach part of the behavioral sciences in a practical way and proposal of that was introduced and accepted to teach in that way and to give 20% of marks to this practical part, this in addition to the same theoretical lectures.

Method

The students were divided into groups of 30, every group present one day only through their 2nd year. This day divided into two parts each is 2 hours and in between have an hour break. The 1st part includes group discussion about communication, group dynamics, group leading and scientific way of problem solving. The 2nd part is dividing students into small groups of 10 students, to practice the previous skills in group interaction to solve one problem in a scientific way. All groups collected again to see what they have done.

Results

The results revealed more interest and more enthusiasm to learn in that way and make it easy to practice in their daily life.

Conclusion

We have to change into more practice in our teaching of medical students especially skills of human communication, group leading group dynamics as well as problem solving.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.