Integrating multidisciplinary team teaching with case-based learning in urology internship education

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and initial efficacy of a multidisciplinary team (MDT)-enhanced case-based learning (CBL) approach within urology clinical internship training. METHODS: A pilot, cluster-randomized controlled study was conducted at Peking University Third Hospital from January 2022 to September 2023. Eighty-four medical interns in clinical medicine were allocated by pre-formed training groups: 32 to the experimental (MDT-CBL: multidisciplinary team-enhanced case-based learning) group and 52 to the control (traditional teaching) group. The MDT-CBL model integrated urologists, radiologists, and ultrasonographers in teaching structured around real clinical cases. Outcomes included a 20-item written test on urological knowledge and a questionnaire assessing teaching method preference before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Interns in the MDT-CBL group achieved a higher mean score on the knowledge test (6.2 ± 2.5) compared to the control group (5.8 ± 3.4), though this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.52). Subjectively, the intervention was highly accepted: 65.6% (21/32) of interns in the experimental group preferred the MDT-CBL model post-intervention, with 17 interns switching their preference from the traditional method. This indicates a strong positive shift in learner engagement. CONCLUSION: The integration of an MDT framework with CBL in urology internship training presents a well-accepted and engaging educational model. While this pilot study did not show a statistically significant advantage over traditional teaching in a written test of foundational knowledge, it was associated with significantly higher learner satisfaction and preference. These findings suggest the model’s primary value may lie in enriching the learning experience and fostering early interdisciplinary collaboration.