Satisfaction with and suitability of the problem-based learning program at the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify suggestions for improving the effectiveness and promoting the success of the current Problem-based learning (PBL) program at the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine according to professor and student awareness survey result. Methods: A survey was carried out by sending out mobile Naver Form survey pages via text messages 3 times in December 2018, to 44 medical students and 74 professors of College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea. In addition, relevant official documents from the school administration were reviewed. The collected data were analyzed to identify the achievement of educational goals, overall satisfaction with, and operational suitability of the PBL. Results: The overall satisfaction scores for the PBL program were neutral range (students: 3.27 ± 0.95 vs. professors: 3.58 ± 1.07, P=0.118). Regarding the achievement of educational goals, the integration of basic and clinical medicine and encouragement of learning motivation was ranked lowest. Many respondents expressed negative opinions about the modules (students: 25.0%, professors: 39.2%) and tutors (students: 54.5%, professors: 24.3%). The students and professors agreed that the offering timing of program and length of phase were suitable, while opinions expressed in greater detail pointed to issues such as the classes being held too close to exams and their alignment with regular course units. Conclusion: Issues with modules and tutors were the most pressing. Detailed and appropriate modules should be developed on the basis of advice from professors with experience in PBL tutoring. Inconsistencies in tutoring should be reduced by standardization and retraining.