Associate Professor University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora, Colorado, United States
Disclosure(s):
Aimee P. Bernard, PhD: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction/Rationale: Utilizing existing knowledge can build associations that support learning, understanding and communication of complex concepts. Analogies allow the unknown to become familiar, serving as cognitive bridges to deeper understanding. In medical education, analogies have been utilized to increase depth of understanding, with students often creating their own analogies to teach their peers. We aimed to assess the impact of using analogies as a teaching tool for complex immunological concepts in the classroom and the extension of their use in clinical practice.
Methods: Analogies were integrated into didactic class sessions to teach complex immunology topics. Students were encouraged to create their own analogies, reinforcing their understanding and enabling them to communicate scientific concepts more effectively. Students were surveyed at the end of course blocks to assess the effectiveness of analogies in understanding complex immunological concepts. Second-year medical students received a second survey at the end of the year to assess the effectiveness of analogies for communication with patients.
Results: Students self-reported increased confidence in their understanding and retention of immunological material. They noted that analogies enhanced their learning experience and provided a strong conceptual foundation for building more detailed and nuanced knowledge. The second-year medical students reported widespread use and effectiveness of analogies in educating patients about complex medical terms, diagnoses, procedures and treatment plans.
Conclusion: Incorporating analogies into immunology education supports both cognitive and communicative skill development. Further, medical students reported widespread use and effectiveness of analogies in the clinical space. This approach not only improves comprehension and retention but also equips students with tools for effective communication with patients and the public about medical conditions and scientific advancements.
