TEAM-BASED LEARNING (TBL) APPLICATION EXERCISES UTILIZING HUMAN PATIENT SIMULATOR IN THE TEACHING OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS) PHARMACOLOGY

John R. Martin*, Ph.D., and Robert J. Theobald, Jr., Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A. T. Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville, MO 63501 U.S.A.

Purpose  

A human patient simulator (HPS) can often be used to mimic clinical cases that in turn could be used as the application exercise of TBL.  Therefore, an HPS encounter was combined with TBL for promoting understanding of ANS pharmacology by second-year medical students.

Methods

Students were assigned to one of 28 teams, and received traditional lectures in preparation for a TBL readiness assurance test and a subsequent combined HPS/application exercise. Four cases were developed as application exercises whose patient symptomatologies were mimicked in the HPS. The 28 teams were divided into 4 groups with each group encountering one of the 4 cases.  Each team was given a list of agents that could be used to treat their HPS, and given 20 minutes to assess, diagnose, administer treatment, and determine the outcome of their treatment. Each team then developed a report in which they described their rationale for diagnosis, treatment, and response of their patient to treatment. During the application exercise session each team completed all 4 cases. The application exercise session concluded with a full class discussion of each case.

Results

A post-experience survey showed the students were satisfied with this exercise and that it contributed to their development as a physician as well as enhancing their understanding of ANS pharmacology.

Conclusion

An HPS encounter combined with a TBL application exercise is useful in the teaching of ANS pharmacology. The HPS provides a realistic simulation of clinical cases which improves student awareness of their need to understand physiological and pharmacological concepts.