Role of case structure and prior experience in a case-based surgical clerkship.

Background: As case-based methods replaced lectures in a surgical clerkship, the influences of case structure and prior experience on learning were investigated.

Methods: Early and late third-year students randomly received different cases. "Structured" cases had data presented and summarized.

A required, combined ACLS/ATLS provider course for senior medical students at East Carolina University.

A course that combines advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) training with advanced trauma life support (ATLS) training for senior medical students was evaluated for its ability to integrate concepts of students' prior clinical experience and to stimulate achievement of provider certification. Since initiation of this program in 1982, students have uniformly praised the combined ACLS/ATLS provider course in anonymous, post-course evaluations. The experience was judged to integrate significantly concepts and principles acquired in students' previous 18 months of clinical training.