Innovative teaching and examination methods - taking stock at german medical faculties

Background and objective: Following amendment to the German medical licensing regulations in April 2002, the training and examination of clinical-technical competencies within university medical education has gained in importance. To date, the implementation of new and innovative teaching and assessment methods at medical faculties in the Federal Republic of Germany has not been subject to exhaustive and detailed evaluation. Methods: Using structured telephone interviews, all 36 medical faculties were questioned concerning their curricula, application of skills laboratory trainings, Standardised patients (SPs), problem-based learning (PBL), computer-based training (CBT), and the implementation of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE). Results: All 36 faculties (100%) took part in the survey. 34 faculties (94%) reported providing training in a skills laboratory and 30 (83%) faculties reported working with standardised patients. PBL is employed at 33 faculties (92%) and CBT at 32 (89%). Practical clinical assessments in the form of OSCEs are conducted at 28 faculties and are currently being installed at two further universities. Conclusion: New and innovative teaching and examination methods have been implemented in almost all medical universities in the Federal Republic of Germany. Further studies are needed in order to assess the extent to which individual specialist fields are involved in these developments.