PBL Case on Child Abuse/Hemophilia A

Abstract This resource includes a problem-based learning (PBL) case on the dichotomy of child abuse and hemophilia A. The author's preferred implementation of the case had instructors handing out the first four pages of the case in Session #1, the following six pages after hearing and discussing the research in Session #2, and handing out the postscript and the expected learning issues during Session #3. At the end of Session #1, the case will have lead the students to research issues related to child abuse and greenstick fracture. Laboratory results and family history given in Session #2 then turn the case to hemophilia A, and students are expected to draw a pedigree chart from the provided family history as part of this session. It is our conviction that the progression from assuming the more common cause to diagnosing the less common cause happens fairly often in real life. Our expectation is that no facilitator can be an expert in all aspects of a case. Therefore, a file with background information has been written and is included. At our university, medical genetics is taught in first and second semester, so this version of the case most naturally is directed at first-year medical students in a similar program. The case can fairly easily be tweaked to involve more pathology (for example, insert an X-ray) for use in medical schools that teach genetics in the second year. This case has been used in the Ross University PBL program once or twice a year. It has been generally well received by facilitators and students alike.