Accompanying research

As part of scientific accompanying research, effects of active student participation are examined with regard to three areas:

• students’ learning process (educational research)
• quality of medical patient care (health services research)
• hospital organization (team workers, economical aspects)

Students’ learning process
Students rate their own competences before and at the end of their time at the CEWIM. This way the self-assessment of their learning progress is documented. Additionally, students receive external feedback from their clinical instructors. Finally, all learning experiences are documented by interviews and then analyzed qualitatively. 

Patients' medical care
After discharge, all patients treated in the CEWIM are asked about their experiences on the CEWIM via mail survey. The central focus in this postal survey is as follows:

• assessment of the quality of treatment,
• medical care provided by students and medical team,
• expectations regarding an anthroposophical and complementary therapy treatment plan and whether these have been met.

The assessment of the quality of medical care is carried out within a framework of the Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Care Research (in German "Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Versorgungsforschung" (IZVF)) at Witten/Herdecke University and in cooperation with the Picker Institute in Hamburg/Germany.  Hospital organizationHospital employees (nurses, therapists, doctors) are asked about effects of the integration of medical students in the medical team. Changes regarding working procedures and interprofessional teamwork receive special attention. Economical effects (expenditures vs. savings in staff, changes regarding engaged beds on a ward etc.) are also assessed.

It is the aim of the accompanying research to examine the extent to which this specific type of CEWIM is useful as a future model for further "clinical education wards" and to assess its effects in various areas.