Integrated whole-course clinical learning (IWCL): following a patient across the full care continuum¶

Design · All designs
Evidence · 3 claims (3 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

IWCL is described as "a comprehensive, practice-oriented educational approach designed to expose undergraduate students to the full trajectory of patient care." Students follow selected patients from outpatient consultation through inpatient management to the surgical stage, connecting every stage of the clinical process. The model emphasizes "integrative learning, clinical thinking, and reflective practice," aiming to move students from fragmented observation to holistic patient-centered competence. In this study it was combined with case-based learning for an otolaryngology clerkship.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

Requires supervising physicians to screen suitable surgical patients and closely monitor and guide the entire process, at associate chief physician level or above

Constraints¶

Limited number of suitable surgical patients eligible and willing to be admitted; implementation places high demands on supervising physicians' time and energy

Target Learners¶

Undergraduate medical students in clinical clerkships

Learning Goals¶

Clinical reasoning and diagnostic decision-making
Specialty physical examination and documentation skills
Anatomical knowledge
Patient-centered communication and empathy

Claims¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

Su Xiaoqun, Hu Bing, Liu Chengcheng, Ren Hongmiao. (2026). Application of integrated whole-course clinical learning combined with case-based learning in undergraduate otolaryngology clerkships. BMC Medical Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-09871-8

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`design`
`id`	`iwcl-whole-course-clinical-learning-model`
`title`	`Integrated whole-course clinical learning (IWCL): following a patient across the full care continuum`
`description`	`IWCL is described as "a comprehensive, practice-oriented educational approach designed to expose undergraduate students to the full trajectory of patient care." Students follow selected patients from outpatient consul...`
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:settle-candidates` on `2026-11-04`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	1 — `su-xiaoqun-2026`

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