Table 3

Evaluation of competencies as taught in medical school

PBL-based Curriculum

Conventional Curriculum

p-value

Effect size

Independent learning/working

5.61 ± 0.7

4.11 ± 1.3

< 0.001

large

Practical medical skills

4.38 ± 0.7

2.59 ± 1.2

< 0.001

large

Psycho-social competence

5.45 ± 0.7

2.54 ± 1.3

< 0.001

large

Team work

5.33 ± 0.9

3.19 ± 1.3

< 0.001

large

Problem-solving skills

5.26 ± 0.8

3.28 ± 1.2

< 0.001

large

Medical knowledge

4.38 ± 1.0

4.69 ± 0.9

0.002

small

Interdisciplinary thinking

5.44 ± 0.7

3.33 ± 1.1

< 0.001

large

Business competence

2.14 ± 1.2

1.35 ± 0.7

< 0.001

large

Research competence

2.57 ± 1.3

3.10 ± 1.3

< 0.001

small

Ratings are provided as mean ± standard deviation on a 6-point Likert scale, where "6" indicated "very intensively", and "1" indicated "not at all" taught in medical school. For significant differences, a small, moderate, and large effect size was defined as Hedges' g <0.5, 0.5-0.8, and >0.8, respectively.

Schlett et al. BMC Medical Education 2010 10:1   doi:10.1186/1472-6920-10-1