Dr Ann Wylie Senior Teaching Fellow, King's College London School of Medicine, London
Abstract
Behaviour modification teaching, including smoking cessation, needs to be included in medical undergraduate curricula and has been taught at KCLSoM to third year medical students since 2005. Since the emergence of the NCSCT online courses, senior medical students (n= 1,200 across three clinical years) have been encouraged to complete this qualification to complement the taught components more than 30% of the students graduating this year having achieved the level 1 qualification.
Aims of the study
Evaluation of the student experience has been ongoing using qualitative approaches, assessing their confidence in applying their skills. The research findings have been used to inform ongoing curriculum developments.
Findings
Students reported enthusiasm for learning but described “atrophy” of skills if they had limited opportunity to apply, and expressed feelings of low role legitimacy. Additional learning opportunities have been successfully piloted including reviewing GP-based smoking cessation services, and students being involved in a smoking cessation project at a large teaching hospital.
Discussion
Students as learners need to have appropriate opportunities to practice behaviour modification skills and as such could contribute to the NHS capacity to meet the needs of patients who smoke. In addition small research and audit projects can be allocated to selected students.
