International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Abdullah Al Saleh

Abstract
Background: Many literatures highlighted the importance of implementing pediatrics training program for medical students in the primary health care centers. A special community pediatrics training program was developed for the medical students of the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for the Health Sciences. The fourth year medical students of this college will do two months rotation in different primary care centers as a part of family & community medicine training which include community pediatrics. One month of this rotation will be in Um Alhamam primary care center where three pediatrics consultants are available and will offer training for the medicalstudents. Objective: is to enhance medical students clinical and communication skills. Methods: Total of 100 students involved in this study, a self-assessment and clinical exam were conducted at the beginning and end of the program. Results: The study showed that students benefited greatly from this community pediatrics training program with significant differences between their preexisting known skills and clinical skills acquired by the end of the program. Primary care centers are ideal places for optimal training because of small group training setting that is one tutor to two students and of the advantage that students face real patient environment which help medical student to improve their communication and clinical skills. Conclusion: Pediatrics clinical skills module in the primary health care center enables medical students to achieve more of their important pediatrics clinical skills and should be mandatory training for all medical students.