Effect of the clinical skills competition on the clinical skills in five-year and seven-year medical students

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the clinical skills competition on the clinical skills in five-year and seven-year medical students. Methods 1593 seven-year medical students and five-year medical students in clinical practice were taken as research targets. In the clinical skills competition of the medical students, the scores of participating medical students were compared. Results The scores of the seven-year medical students in the clinical skills competition were dramatically higher than those of five-year medical students in most operating items. There were no significant differences that the scores in scalp vein puncture in children, arterial blood sampling, venous blood collection, intravenous infusion, intracutaneous injection, catheterization, ECG operation, baby feeding measured between the two groups. Conclusions The abilities of the seven-year medical students in clinical thinking and team cooperation were dramatically greater than those of five-year medical students. The clinical skills competition could promote the cultivation of the clinical skills, clinical thinking and team cooperation of medical students. Key words: Clinical skills; Competition; Medical students; Clinical practice ability; Effect.