Abstract
Introduction The German practical year is the last clinical placement period during Medical School.
However, it remains unclear how medical students evaluate the practical year in orthopaedics
and traumatology (Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie; O & U) and whether it has an impact
on becoming an O & U specialist.
Method We analysed data of 146 medical students (46,7% female) who completed the placement
in O & U. From the evaluation, 37 items were included in the analyses. Participants
who could imagine becoming an O & U specialist (O & U-Ja) following graduation were
statistically compared to those who could not (O & U-Nein).
Results Overall 123 (83.7%) trainees indicated that they would like to become an O & U specialist
(O & U-Ja), 18 (12.8%) negated (O & U-Nein) and 6 (4.1%) were undecided. Groups did
not differ for sex and age (sex: Chi² = 2.50, p = 0.114; age: F [1.93] < 1, p = 0.764).
Group differences were found for practical orientation, independency, acquisition
of anamnesis and diagnostics skills and problem-solving expertise with students who
could imagine becoming an O & U specialist (O & U-Ja) giving the highest ratings.
Discussion Evaluations of the last medical year are essential in order to continuously improve
the internship experience and to attract students towards a certain medical field
and, moreover, to post-graduate specialist training. Clinics and institutions who
already emphasize on the factors derived from this evaluation, or are continuously
working on improvement, might be more able to attract young professionals, since personnel
acquisition is starting early in the medical field.
Key words
orthopaedic surgery - traumatology - practical internship - medical student - training
