The Department of Psychiatry coordinates the Behavioral Sciences in Medical Practice (BSMP) segment of the Doctoring Curriculum. The Doctoring Curriculum is a two-year (four semester) experience designed to prepare students for their future practice by providing them with knowledge and skills in medical interviewing, introducing them to important aspects of the physician-patient relationship, exposing them to behavioral science principles relevant to medical practice, and providing basic instruction in physical examination, clinical reasoning, medical informatics, ethics, disease prevention, health promotion, and professionalism.  

The BSMP segment is designed to introduce behavioral science concepts that inform the practice of medicine. Using a case-based learning format, students conduct simulated patient interviews; read case material; identify learning objectives that are relevant to the assessment, conceptualization, and treatment of the case; conduct informatics research to increase their knowledge about identified objectives; and present their research to fellow students in class.  Conducted in small groups of 9-10 students, BSMP learners interact closely with preceptors who facilitate discussion and highlight relevant areas of interface between medicine and behavioral science. Each BSMP small group meets from 1:00 – 3:00 on Mondays or Wednesdays.

Over the course of the semester, learning occurs within the context of four clinical cases. These cases centers around a human life-cycle stage: infant/child, adolescent, adult, and older adult. The first case is covered during 2 class meetings and the remaining cases span 3 class meetings.  Cases begin with a standardized patient interviewed by class members. Based on the results of the interview, an initial set of learning objectives are identified. Students select learning objectives to research before the next class. At the next small group meeting, students present to their peers the results of their individual research into the learning objectives. Additional written case material is presented, and another set of learning objectives is identified and assigned. At the conclusion of each case, all students attend a “wrap up” session (held in Baruch Auditorium) to review case objectives, ask questions about confusing or unresolved learning issues, and recap the major principles within each case.

Prior to each written examination, students attend a review session (also in Baruch Auditorium) that includes faculty from each course segment within Doctoring I. These faculty members present sample test items, review the principles underlying each sample question, and clarify any confusing or unresolved issues relating to material that students are responsible for knowing. Attendance at case wrap ups and test reviews is mandatory.

Course Text
The Behavioral Sciences in Medical Practice course segment uses Behavior & Medicine, 3rd Edition, Danny Wedding (Ed.), Hogrefe & Huber Publishers (2001). Students use informatics searches to identify other learning resources, such as journal articles, book chapters, web-based resources, and scientific texts, as part of the case-based learning process.

Evaluation of Student Performance
Doctoring I is graded on a Needs Remediation/Pass/Honors basis. Students must pass all evaluations in order to pass the course. Student knowledge is evaluated on examinations, and professionalism is evaluated by preceptors within the context of small group participation.

Written questions for BSMP are included in the comprehensive written examinations that occur during the first semester. Questions are multiple choice and address material from the textbook and from learning objectives identified within the BSMP cases. Often questions present clinical scenarios and require learners to apply the principles they have learned in order to determine the best response. This method corresponds to those used for most questions on licensing board examinations.

Professional behavior and interpersonal skills are essential to the competent practice of medicine. Therefore, these skills are evaluated over the course of each semester by small group discussion leaders, including preceptors in the BSMP course segment. Evaluations are completed at mid-semester and at the end of the semester, and feedback is provided individually to each student. Small group leaders are asked to provide feedback on listening skills, participation in group discussions, preparedness, respectfulness toward others, and professional knowledge.

Course Evaluation
At the conclusion of the semester, students are required to provide feedback and evaluate both the course itself and their small group leaders, including BSMP preceptors. Such evaluation is done confidentially via WebCT. Although all responses are confidential, the software does identify students who have not completed evaluations. Those students receive Incomplete grades until they complete the course evaluation. In addition, each student has the opportunity to provide confidential, mid-semester feedback about BSMP preceptors.

Contact Information

BSMP Course Segment Co-Directors:

Darlene Shaw, Ph.D.
Counseling & Psychological Services
30 Bee St.
shawd@musc.edu
(843)792-4930

Daniel W. Smith, Ph.D.
National Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center
165 Cannon St., 3rd Floor
smithdw@musc.edu
(843)792-2945