[Quality assurance in the teaching of medical students illustrated by the example of spa therapy for rheumatic diseases].

Background: The currently employed methods for quality assurance in student education are frequently considered as being inadequate. In the present study the request to plan a budget for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis is presented as an additional method to assess the influence of a teaching course on the student's attitude towards certain interventions. How would medical students distribute financial resources for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis? Does a course 'Excursion to a Spa' lead to changes in budgeting by the student?

Material And Methods: Before and after a 4-day excursion to Bad Gastein (health resort primarily for patients with rheumatic diseases) to become better acquainted with the local treatment modalities medical students in semester 8.

Prospective controlled evaluation of the influence of an excursion to a health resort on medical students' opinion about chances for outpatient rehabilitation at a health resort.

Objective: To assess the influence of an excursion to a health resort on students' opinion on the chances for outpatient rehabilitation at a health resort for cardiac and rheumatic diseases.

Methods: A group of 17 medical students went on a 1-day excursion to Bad Orb (near Frankfurt/M.) where mainly patients with heart diseases are treated.