PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to evaluate the students' clinical competency from the patient safety perspective.
METHODS
We conducted this evaluation in 2006 at College of Medicine, Kangwon National University. We surveyed 50 fourth-year medical students after finishing all clinical clerkships. 49 Students evaluated their achievement with 5-Likert score scale. The questionnaires were composed 6 domains: communication skills, prevention & management of adverse events, using evidence and information techniques, teamwork & leadership, medical ethical behaviors, and procedural skills. The each domains were constituted several items. Total 53 items was evaluated.
RESULTS
The students' preparedness was relatively low in 28 items of the total 53(difficult communication, detecting and managing medical errors, using evidence and information technique, understanding of complex systems, autonomy, and procedural skills).
CONCLUSION
The items with low achievement were closely related with medical errors and patient safety. These findings suggest that the clinical education is insufficient for preventing medical errors by students. For patient safety, we should understand the importance of achievement of competency related with patient safety and establish a systematic clinical curriculum with explicit learning outcomes.
