Problem-based learning at the Ribeirão Preto Faculty of Medicine?

weighing the pros and cons

Abstract

The potential advantages and drawbacks of introduction of problem-based learning (PBL) to the medical curriculum at the Ribeirão Preto Faculty of Medicine are analyzed, considering such aspects as student maturity faculty burdens physical plant adaptations information retrieval infrastructure and expectations of graduates The author concludes that constraints derive from the work and cost involved in altering ease of information retrieval training faculty and preparing written patient problems If these constraints were met students might benefit from such a curricular adaptation. The hypothesis could be tested by introducing PBL into specified segments of the curriculum and carefully monitoring the results.