How to Apply Case-Based Learning in Medical Education?
¿Cómo aplicar el aprendizaje basado en casos en la educación médica?
Said Said Elshama
Abstract
Case-based learning is considered a form of active learning that prepares and qualifies students for their future professional field. It has many positive educational impacts, such as bridging theoretical or academic concepts to clinical practice, enhancing critical thinking, improving long-term knowledge retention and the persistence of educational attainment, and developing collaboration and communication skills. However, its implementation in medical education faces obstacles and challenges, including resource limitations, untrained tutors, complex group dynamics, and integration issues with other modules and courses. These challenges and obstacles stem from a lack of practical experience or a poor understanding of the nature of this learning method and the extent of its differences from problem-based learning. So, this study aims to present a review scope about successful implementation and management of case-based learning sessions in medical education prompting positive aspects and avoiding negative points. Moreover, the study focused on other application forms of case-based learning sessions that may be applied in medical education, such as virtual case-based learning or introducing role-play simulation in case-based learning sessions.
Keywords
Resumen
El aprendizaje basado en casos se considera una forma de aprendizaje activo que prepara y capacita a los estudiantes para su futuro campo profesional. Tiene muchos impactos educativos positivos, como la conexión de conceptos teóricos o académicos con la práctica clínica, el fomento del pensamiento crítico, la mejora de la retención del conocimiento a largo plazo y la persistencia del logro educativo, así como el desarrollo de habilidades de colaboración y comunicación. Sin embargo, su implementación en la educación médica enfrenta obstáculos y desafíos, incluyendo limitaciones de recursos, tutores sin capacitación, dinámicas grupales complejas y problemas de integración con otros módulos y cursos. Estos desafíos y obstáculos se derivan de la falta de experiencia práctica o de una comprensión deficiente de la naturaleza de este método de aprendizaje y de la magnitud de sus diferencias con el aprendizaje basado en problemas. Por lo tanto, este estudio tiene como objetivo presentar una revisión sobre la implementación y gestión exitosas de sesiones de aprendizaje basado en casos en la educación médica, destacando los aspectos positivos y evitando los negativos. Además, el estudio se centró en otras formas de aplicación de las sesiones de aprendizaje basado en casos que pueden aplicarse en la educación médica, como el aprendizaje basado en casos virtuales o la introducción de la simulación de juegos de rol en las sesiones de aprendizaje basado en casos.
Palabras clave
References
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Submitted date:
04/16/2026
Reviewed date:
07/21/2026
Accepted date:
07/01/2026
Publication date:
07/01/2026
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