ObjectiveTo explore the actual effect of “graphic-sequenced memory method” in teaching electrocardiogram (ECG). MethodsOne hundred students were randomly divided into a traditional teaching group (n=50) and an innovative teaching group (n=50) in May, 2014. Teachers in the traditional teaching group utilized the traditional teaching outline, and teachers in the innovative teaching group received training in the new teaching method and syllabus. All students took an examination in the final semester by analyzing 20 ECGs from real clinical cases and gave their ECG reports. ResultsThe average ECG reading time was (32.0±4.8) minutes for the traditional teaching group and (18.0±3.6) minutes for the innovative teaching group. The average ECG accuracy results were (43.0±5.2)% for the traditional teaching group and (77.0±9.6)% for the innovative teaching group. ConclusionsECG learning is an important branch of the cardiac discipline, but ECG’s mechanisms are intricate and the learning content scattered. Textbooks tend to make students feel confused due to the restrictions of the length and format of the syllabi, and there are many other limitations. Graphic-sequenced memory method is a useful method which can be fully used in ECG teaching.
Objective To explore the application value of standardized patient (SP)-based teaching method in the teaching of medical history taking for international students. Methods During the autumn semester of 2017, 96 international medical students were randomly divided into two groups, with 48 students in the SP-based teaching group and 48 students in the conventional teaching group. The test scores of medical history taking in English in internal medical practice of the two groups were compared. The teaching feedback from the international students was collected and evaluated by online questionnaire survey. Results The scores of medical history taking examination in internal medical practice of the students using SP-based teaching method were higher than those of the students using conventional teaching method (86.5±9.7 vs.78.2±10.6), and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.983, P<0.001). According to the questionnaire analysis, in terms of whether the current teaching method could enhance learning interest, improve communication ability, promote clinical skills, train clinical thinking, and highlight humanistic care, students with positive views in the SP-based teaching group accounted for 92.86%, 97.62%, 85.71%, 90.48%, and 95.24%, respectively, while students with positive views in the conventional teaching group accounted for 90.00%, 87.50%, 82.50%, 77.50%, and 97.50%, respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions Well-trained SP has a good application value in clinical practice of internal medicine and diagnostics teaching for international students. SP-based teaching method has been accepted and supported by the majority of international medical students who have experienced it.