Scholarship opportunities for trainees and clinician educators: learning outcomes from a case report writing workshop

J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Mar;24(3):398-401. doi: 10.1007/s11606-008-0873-9. Epub 2008 Dec 18.

Abstract

Introduction: Publishing a case report demonstrates scholarly productivity for trainees and clinician-educators.

Aim: To assess the learning outcomes from a case report writing workshop.

Setting: Medical students, residents, fellows and clinician-educators attending a workshop.

Program description: Case report writing workshop conducted nine times at different venues.

Program evaluation: Before and after each workshop, participants self-rated their perceived competence to write a case report, likelihood of submitting a case report to a meeting or for publication in the next 6-12 months, and perceived career benefit of writing a case report (on a five-point Likert scale). The 214 participants were from 3 countries and 27 states or provinces; most participants were trainees (64.5 %). Self-rated competence for writing a case report improved from a mean of 2.5 to 3.5 (a 0.99 increase; 95% CI, 0.88-1.12, p < 0.001). The perceived likelihood of submitting a case report, and the perceived career benefit of writing one, also showed statistically significant improvements (p = 0.002, p = 0.001; respectively). Nine of 98 participants published a case report 16-41 months after workshop completion.

Discussion: The workshop increased participants' perception that they could present or publish a case report.

MeSH terms

  • Education, Medical, Continuing
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency*
  • Periodicals as Topic*
  • Professional Competence*
  • Staff Development*