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PBL Learning Issues

 

ADDRESSING LEARNING ISSUES

PBL is about uncertainty and requires the integration of basic science knowledge with clinical knowledge for problem solving and decision making.

PBL starts with the ability to identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one's knowledge base.

  • What are the gaps in your knowledge?
  • What do you need to know or learn?

PBL is about Finding, Assessing, and Applying Knowledge from quality information resources.

  • Consult appropriate reliable resources based on the kind of information needed.
  • Understand the quality and provenance of information prior to using it.
  • Assess applicability of information/evidence for specific patient care needs.
  • Reflect on outcomes of care and adjust your approach to the same or similar issues accordingly.

START with what you know.

  • Chief complaint (what is it and what "system" does it relate to? chest pain & shortness of breath - Cardiovascular or Respiratory?)
  • History (medical, surgical, social)
  • Physical (general appearance, attitude)
  • Vital signs (within normal ranges? If not, what does that indicate?)
  • Other labs (within normal ranges? If not, what does that indicate?)

What FOUNDATIONAL knowledge do you need? (anatomy - normal or abnormal, organ function, pathophysiology, drug mechanism of action)

Use Study Tools to build a strong knowledge base in the Basic Sciences.

What CLINICAL knowledge do you need? (differential diagnosis, physical evaluation, diagnostic tests to rule out or rule in, treatment of acute issue, management of  chronic issue)

Use Clinical Tools for overviews and secondary evidence related to patient care.

See Where to Find the Information you Need to link to resources that best fit your information need.

WHERE TO FIND THE INFORMATION YOU NEED

Basic Sciences
Learning Issues

Structure & Function

Clinical Sciences
Learning Issues

Etiology, Diagnosis, Prognosis,
Risk, & Prevention

Quick Links

Resources listed under Quick Links can address many learning issues

 CIVL Basic Sciences topic-specific pages includes Faculty Recommended texts, Learning Tools, and more.

     CIVL Clinical Sciences topic-specific pages include Faculty Recommended  texts, Learning Tools and more.

  

      

Core Texts

Study Tools support foundational learning and provide overviews of Basic Sciences concepts when a quick review is needed.

 

Clinical Tools provide clinically oriented information for patient evaluation and care.

Study & Clinical Tools
       

Textbooks provide foundational  information related to body structures & their function, systems & conditions.

Article Databases provide empirical “evidence” from primary and secondary journal literature.

Use search terms such as diagnosis, treatment, etiology, prevention, and risk for patient care evidence.

Limit results to publication types such as Randomized Controlled Trials or Systematic Reviews for best evidence.

A Review article (unlike Systematic Review) is considered to be "expert opinion", not high quality evidence.

PubMed for LIs
provides tips and tutorials for searching PubMed.

        
Article Databases

 
  • Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)
    an in-depth guide to the process and practice of EBM - Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply
  • Data & Statistics
    provides links to resources for local, state, federal and global statistics and data
  • Drug Information
    link to drug information databases to search by class, trade or generic name and more

 

CIVL Quick Guides

When you are not sure where to find what you need, these guides might be useful.

STUDY TOOLS at a Glance

CLINICAL TOOLS at a Glance