[Medical students and the teaching of pathology: results of a survey in the faculty of medicine of Amiens].

INTRODUCTION

The aim of our survey was to assess the perception of teaching pathology by the medical students in the sixth year of the medical course (DCEM4), in the faculty of medicine of Amiens.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Just after an exam in December 2008, an anonymous questionnaire of 19 items, dealing with pathology, the teaching of pathology and tutorials, was given to the 127 medical students in DCEM4.

RESULTS

Seventy-four percent of the students out of the 127 students filled and gave back the questionnaire (response rate: 58%). Eighty-nine percent of the students considered their knowledge in pathology inadequate. Fifty-three percent of the students considered the teaching of pathology mediocre. For 85% of the students, tutorials were useful. For 93% of the students pathology plays a main role in modern medicine. Thirty-eight percent of the students considered that pathology was an interesting specialty. Sixty-nine percent of them did not know how a department of pathology functioned. Four percent of the students would like to choose a training in pathology.

DISCUSSION

Although the results are not available for all French faculties of medicine, this survey underlines the present limits of the teaching of pathology, which is not coming up to the students' expectations. The students appreciate tutorials but pathology is not attractive. More lectures about pathology after the third year of the medical course, a better communication and the reception of more medical students in the departments of pathology could improve the situation.