Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship Course
Abstract Background: The main objective of this study is to design a method to calculate the notional learning hours (NLH) of final-year medical students doing a surgical clerkship course, as current methods are based only on assumptions. Secondary objectives include derivation of the Oman Qualifica...
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Knowledge E
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v19i3.15081 |
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| author | Gamal EHA EL Shallaly Nausheen Saeed Sathyanarayan Rao |
| author_facet | Gamal EHA EL Shallaly Nausheen Saeed Sathyanarayan Rao |
| author_sort | Gamal EHA EL Shallaly |
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| description | Abstract Background: The main objective of this study is to design a method to calculate the notional learning hours (NLH) of final-year medical students doing a surgical clerkship course, as current methods are based only on assumptions. Secondary objectives include derivation of the Oman Qualification Framework (OQF) credits and setting a benchmark of NLH calculation in clinical courses. Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study which uses quantitative methods to estimate students' NLH. A questionnaire was designed and filled in by final-year medical students at the end of their surgical rotation. Ethical clearance was obtained. Data were uploaded and analyzed using the SPSS 25. The NLH was then calculated and mapped onto the OQF template. Results: Ninety-seven students participated in the study. Students spent an average of 1.20 hrs/day studying for their clinical sessions and 2.86/day studying for their theory sessions. The mean weekend hours of study on Friday and Saturday were 3.1 and 3.2 hrs, respectively. The average preparation for the end rotation and the final graduating (MD) exams were 9.7 and 10.4 hrs, respectively. We calculated the NLH of our students by adding the above data to the contact teaching hours from our course timetable. We compared our results with medical schools worldwide. Conclusion: TheNLH of our surgical clerkship students was calculated and subsequently the OQF credits were derived. Our method is based on real-life students' study hours and not on unproven assumptions. It could be used as a guide by other clinical clerkship courses. |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1858-5051 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a1b775037d634fd79a07c258d63f30df2025-08-20T01:47:40ZengKnowledge ESudan Journal of Medical Sciences1858-50512024-09-0119336737710.18502/sjms.v19i3.15081sjms.v19i3.15081Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship CourseGamal EHA EL Shallaly0Nausheen Saeed1Sathyanarayan Rao2Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (COMHS), National University (NU), Sohar, Sultanate of OmanDepartment of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (COMHS), National University (NU), Sohar, Sultanate of OmanDepartment of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (COMHS), National University (NU), Sohar, Sultanate of OmanAbstract Background: The main objective of this study is to design a method to calculate the notional learning hours (NLH) of final-year medical students doing a surgical clerkship course, as current methods are based only on assumptions. Secondary objectives include derivation of the Oman Qualification Framework (OQF) credits and setting a benchmark of NLH calculation in clinical courses. Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study which uses quantitative methods to estimate students' NLH. A questionnaire was designed and filled in by final-year medical students at the end of their surgical rotation. Ethical clearance was obtained. Data were uploaded and analyzed using the SPSS 25. The NLH was then calculated and mapped onto the OQF template. Results: Ninety-seven students participated in the study. Students spent an average of 1.20 hrs/day studying for their clinical sessions and 2.86/day studying for their theory sessions. The mean weekend hours of study on Friday and Saturday were 3.1 and 3.2 hrs, respectively. The average preparation for the end rotation and the final graduating (MD) exams were 9.7 and 10.4 hrs, respectively. We calculated the NLH of our students by adding the above data to the contact teaching hours from our course timetable. We compared our results with medical schools worldwide. Conclusion: TheNLH of our surgical clerkship students was calculated and subsequently the OQF credits were derived. Our method is based on real-life students' study hours and not on unproven assumptions. It could be used as a guide by other clinical clerkship courses.https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v19i3.15081notional learning hours, credit hours, oman authority for academic accreditation and quality assurance of education (oaaaqa), oman qualification framework (oqf), students' workload, self-study, medical students, surgical clerkship |
| spellingShingle | Gamal EHA EL Shallaly Nausheen Saeed Sathyanarayan Rao Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship Course Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences notional learning hours, credit hours, oman authority for academic accreditation and quality assurance of education (oaaaqa), oman qualification framework (oqf), students' workload, self-study, medical students, surgical clerkship |
| title | Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship Course |
| title_full | Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship Course |
| title_fullStr | Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship Course |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship Course |
| title_short | Calculating the Notional Learning Hours (NLH) for Final Year Medical Students in a Clinical Surgery Clerkship Course |
| title_sort | calculating the notional learning hours nlh for final year medical students in a clinical surgery clerkship course |
| topic | notional learning hours, credit hours, oman authority for academic accreditation and quality assurance of education (oaaaqa), oman qualification framework (oqf), students' workload, self-study, medical students, surgical clerkship |
| url | https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v19i3.15081 |
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