Teaching and Learning in the Clinical Skills CentrePaperback, 16 June 2011

The purpose of this study was to explore medical students' and tutors' perception towards teaching and learning in the Clinical Skills Centre (CSC). The areas investigated were based on perception of students and tutors towards the usefulness of the CSC for integration of theory and practice, as a convenient learning environment and to provide opportunity for self-directed learning, as well as to provide motivation for students to learn. The perception towards the CSC as an opportunity to provide feedback to students and to teach communication skills were further explored among the tutors. A cross-sectional study was done on year three medical students and tutors in USM.The positive perception were more compared to negative perception in both students and tutors group in all the areas investigated. There were significant differences in the perception of students and tutors towards the usefulness of the CSC in providing motivation to student and perception of tutors towards the usefulness of the CSC for integration of theory and practice. The majority of students and tutors have a positive perception towards all of the roles of the CSC as identified in literature.