Der Einfluss von Hands-On Kursen für die Ausbildung von Medizinstudierenden – eine prospektive multizentrische Studie über optimale Kurscharakteristika

Due to the implementation of model studies, medical students are exposed to more practical courses. However, smaller specialties are granted only limited space there. A recent analysis of student-organized extracurricular hands-on courses in neurosurgery could show a high demand for these courses in Germany. For the optimization of such courses and the identification of quality indicators, a prospective multicenter study is conducted.

The study includes hands-on courses in the period from 05.05.2023 to 05.05.2024, for this sub-analysis courses taken place from 05.05.2023 to 31.12.2023 are included. Participants agreed to answer a questionnaire (soscisurvey.de) before and after the course. It includes demographic questions and Likert-Scale assessments (1 very little, 5 very good) for practical and theoretical skill assessment. The primary outcomes of the study are the learning experience measured by Likert-Scale assessment and its correlation to parameters such as group size and composition. Demographic data and learning experience (paired t-tests) were analyzed for this sub-analysis using Microsoft Excel 2023 and Graph Pad Prism Version 10.

Six hands-on courses with 10 to 50 participants are included in this sub-analysis. Out of 187 applicants, 140 students could get a place for the courses. Questionnaires were filled out by 81 participants (62.96% female). With 39.51% most of them were in their 4th year of studies, followed by 27.16% in their third year, 23.46% in the two first years, and 9.88% in the fifth year. Prior experience in neurosurgery was low with 41.98% not having any experience and only 14.81% with practical courses in their university. Overall, practical and theoretical skills improved significantly with one point on the Likert-Scale (Theoretical: pre-course median 2, IQR 1-3; post-course 3, ICR 2-3 (p < 0.0002); Practical: pre-course median 1, ICR 1-2; post-course 2 ICR 2-3(p < 0.0001); n = 21 matching questionnaires).

Extracurricular hands-on courses in neurosurgery are highly requested by students in Germany. Therefore the offer should be extended and adapted to the student's needs. The influence of course characteristics needs to be further analyzed within the course of the study and should be implemented. Besides the influence on career choice and the impact on educating the next generation in subspecialties could be assessed.