Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2015.56.375
Ready to work or not quite? Self-perception of practical skills among medical students from Serbia ahead of graduation
Tatjana Gazibara
; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Selmina Nurković
; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Gorica Marić
; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Ilma Kurtagić
; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Nikolina Kovačević
; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Darija Kisić-Tepavčević
; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Tatjana Pekmezović
orcid.org/0000-0001-7978-1409
; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
Aim To assess final year medical students’ self-perception
of their practical skills.
Methods The study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine
in Belgrade during compulsory practical sessions in
the period December 2-9, 2013 and 390 students agreed
to participate (response rate 77.8%). The questionnaire
included questions on demographic characteristics, 21
questions on students’ self-perception of their practical
skills, and 1 question on students’ self-perceived readiness
to start working with patients.
Results Cronbach’s α for the entire scale was 0.891. Students
felt most confident about measuring arterial pulse
and blood pressure and taking patients’ history (average
score 10 for all three skills) and least confident about
placing a urinary catheter (average score 1) and suturing
a wound (average score 2). They rated their readiness to
work with patients with 5.0 out of 10.0 points. The total
score did not correlate with students’ average mark (Spearman’s
ρ = 0.039; P = 0.460) and the average mark did not
correlate with the self-perceived readiness to work with
patients (Spearman’s ρ = -0.048; P = 0.365).
Conclusion Our study suggests that medical students lack
confidence to perform various clinical procedures, particularly
those related to surgical interventions. To improve students’
confidence, clinical curriculum should include either
more hours of practical work or ensure closer supervision
of practical training in wards.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
151731
URI
Publication date:
15.8.2015.
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