Determinants of Effective Clinical Education

Abstract

Clinical teaching and learning are essential components of undergraduate medical education, enabling students to develop clinical knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours. This narrative review aimed to examine the factors influencing clinical teaching and learning in undergraduate medical education programmes. A literature search was conducted in PubMed using the keywords “Undergraduate Medical Education”, “Students’ Learning Environment”, “Factors Affecting Teaching and Learning”, and “Impact of Clinical Teaching/Learning”. Fifteen articles published between 2003 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria and were critically reviewed. The findings revealed that clinical learning is influenced by five key domains: teachers, students, the learning environment, organisational factors, and curriculum. Effective supervision, feedback, and role modelling by teachers enhanced learning, while student motivation and engagement contributed positively to educational outcomes. Supportive clinical environments, adequate organisational resources, and the curriculum's structure further facilitated learning. Addressing these interconnected factors is essential to improving the quality and effectiveness of clinical education in undergraduate medical programmes.