Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of case-based learning (CBL) combined with KWL method in clinical internship teaching of endocrinology and metabolism. Methods The experimental control method was used. From June 2021 to June 2022, a cluster sampling method was adopted to select 80 five-year clinical medicine students enrolled from 2016 to 2017 who interned in Xijing Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University as research participants, and they were divided into experimental group and control group by random number table, with 40 people in each group. The experimental group used CBL and KWL method for internship teaching, whereas the control group used traditional teaching methods. The learning effect was evaluated by simulated clinical practitioner theory and practical skill examination and questionnaire survey, t-test was used to analyze the relevant data. Results The scores of experimental group students in theoretical knowledge test (95.22±2.84 vs. 85.58±2.96) and practical skill test (94.28±2.64 vs. 83.19±2.39) were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P <0.001). The results of the questionnaire showed that the students in the experimental group reported improvement in their learning interest (9.51±0.05 vs. 6.83±0.96), learning ability (9.47±0.54 vs. 6.18±0.37), logical thinking ability (9.62±0.14 vs. 6.51±0.25), problem solving ability (9.23±1.65 vs. 6.55±3.46), teacher-student communication (9.72±0.09 vs.7.41±1.98) and doctor-patient communication (9.38±1.67 vs. 6.72±2.87) in comparision with the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Conclusions The application of CBL teaching method combined with KWL method in clinical internship teaching of endocrinology and metabolism can help improve students' theoretical knowledge and practical skills test scores, effectively improve students' learning interest and clinical logical thinking ability, promote teacher-student communication and improve the effect of doctor-patient communication.

Key words: Teaching, Case-based learning, KWL method, Department of endocrinology and metabolism, Clinical internship