Abstract: Objective To explore the application of direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) in clinical practice teaching of fungal microscopic examination.Methods Sixty clinical medicine undergraduate students graded 2011 in Anhui Medical University were random divided into 2 groups, thirty students in both experimental group and control group. Direct observation of procedural skills teaching method was adopted in experimental group, while traditional teaching method was adopted in control group. The teaching results of two different methods of teaching were valued by DOPS and questionnaire survey.Results (1) There was no significant difference in the first item “ the degree of familiar with indication and operation steps” between the two groups, the scores of the other items were higher in experimental group students, the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05).(2) There was no significant difference in the identification of fungal positive rate between the two groups, the time to identify positive results was shorter in experimental group(P=0.024).(3) At the end of probation the questionnaire showed that 93.3% of the students in the experimental group were more satisfied with this new way of teaching.Conclusions Direct observation of procedural skills teaching method achieved good results in the teaching of fungal microscopic examination.

Key words: Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS), Fungal microscopic examination, Teaching method, Dermatology