The attitudes of international medical students toward educational methods and styles applied in a 6-year longitudinal course in fundamentals of medical skills in Croatia

Aim To investigate international medical students’ attitudes toward the impact of 6-year longitudinal course, Fundamentals of Medical Skills (FMS), at Medical Studies in English at the University of Zagreb on the development of their practical, clinical, and communication skills. Methods This cross-sectional study used a 23-item online survey to collect data from five generations of students attending the FMS course from January 31 to February 3, 2017. First-year students were not included. Invitations and reminders were sent to 202 FMS students by e-mail, SMS, and in closed groups in social networksResults The response rate was 69.8% (141/202 students). The majority of students found the course useful (83.7%); favored practical over communication skills (92.9%); found practical skills more useful in higher years (82.3%); thought more time was needed to practice by simulation on mannequins (75.2%); preferred Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) stations to traditional oral exams (78%); and would recommend a course like FMS to future students or students at other universities (79.4%). Significantly more women than men favored practical over communication skills (P = 0.044). Significantly more 5th and 6th students than students at lower years preferred OSCE stations to traditional learning (P = 0.025) and would recommend a course like FMS to future students or students at other universities (P = 0.001). Conclusion Students positively evaluated the FMS course, but underestimated the communication skills aspect.