ABSTRACT
Purpose: Does longer study time motivate students to learn and make them feel a sense of accomplishment? Whilst “Human Biology,” one of the required courses in the first year of the medical school, was in need of a total course design reformation to make a shift from teaching to learning, it was necessary to examine whether longer study time is effective for better learning outcomes. Methods: To get students to learn outside of class, we flipped the course. Since the scores from weekly quizzes, which are held at the beginning of every class, and mid-term and final exams were returned to the students, fully calculated and strictly applied to their grades, students became motivated to study before class. During class time, lessons were taught in the active learning style. We used covariance structure analysis to examine the relationship between the out of class learning design, the syllabus reformation, students’ learning attitudes in the class, and their sense of accomplishment. Results: Study time outside of class increased from 4 hours per week in 2013 to 10 hours per week in 2016, and the students became more satisfied with the course. Our analysis shows that this well-structured syllabus and designing of lessons made the students study more both inside and outside of class, and allowed students to achieve the higher goals of the course. Conclusion: Designing out of class learning and incorporating it well with assessment resulted in longer study time and a stronger sense of accomplishment.
ABSTRACT
<b>Introduction:</b> The regional palliative care support center (PCSC) has set the following palliative care goals for correction of misunderstanding and prejudice of the general community against palliative care, home care and home death of cancer patients: practice palliative care early after diagnosis, educate the community to understand palliative care and build a regional palliative care cooperation system.<b> Method:</b> This study reviewed four years (2009-2012) of data from the PCSC. Outcome data of the patients were collected during outpatient care, inpatient care, and in-home care that were supported by the PCSC. The PCSC managed palliative care based on patient conditions and symptoms in the early stage after diagnosis. The PCSC worked to spread the idea and importance of palliative care to the general community and health care professionals of the region, and also worked to promote the regional palliative care cooperation. <b>Result:</b> These efforts led to an increase in the number of first center visit of patients, especially introduction patients, and an extension of the period of treatments of both tumor department and palliative care department. These outcomes resulted in an increase in the rate of in-home care transitions, the length of in-home care and the number of deaths at home. These results suggest that the place of appropriate medical and caregiving treatments and the place of death are converting into home gradually from hospital.