The Group Process
The small group learning environment is the centerpiece of the PCC curricular experience. The small group setting is particularly useful for developing higher order cognitive skills such as evaluation, problem-solving, interpretation of complex concepts, and application of principles and basic information to practical problems. In addition, small group activities are much more effective than traditional classroom lectures for promoting collaboration, development of interpersonal skills, and affective changes. These elements are essential for the development of effective professionals that are capable of caring for and communicating with patients and their families.
Small group process
The PCC curriculum at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine features small groups of six to eight students, together with a basic scientist and/ or a clinician faculty facilitator. Group discussions explore clinical cases, addressing pertinent basic science disciplines in the context of a patient presentation. Group compositions change at regular intervals throughout the academic year in order to allow for interaction among all PCC students.
For the small group process to work effectively, students are required to come prepared for discussions and participate fully. Preparation entails reading on a variety of topics each evening in order to actively contribute to the case discussions. True participation entails expressing ideas, offering and receiving feedback, challenging assumptions, and recognizing deficiencies. All of these activities are included in the facilitator’s evaluation process.
The cases are based on actual patients
During small group sessions, students rotate through the roles of physician, patient, and scribe. Information about the patient is revealed progressively by the facilitator in response to the student physician’s interview questions, in a sequence similar to that encountered in the clinical setting. The case opens with only the information available to a physician at the beginning of a visit: name, sex, age, and chief complaint. Subsequently data is revealed to address questions concerning patient history, physical exam, results of laboratory tests, and ultimately, diagnosis and treatment. The process serves to mirror the real-world interaction between physician and patient in the course of exploring a patient case. Students are encouraged to generate questions, ideas, and hypotheses that will help them address specific clinical situations. Facilitators do not drive the process; instead they promote a free exploration of alternatives in the process. The ultimate goal of the discussion is not “solving the case” per se, but rather identifying the basic and clinical topics that need to be understood in order to provide effective patient care.