Enhance your clinical learning through CAPSULE

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CAPSULE offers over 650 clinical cases, questions and feedback examples designed to help students apply their medical knowledge in the clinical setting. Student Doctors in Years Three to Five have free access to this learning resource which many are finding particularly useful as a self-learning tool.

CAPSULE stands for Clinical and Professional Studies Unique Learning Environment and anyone new to the platform will have received a direct email with details on how to set up your account at the beginning of the academic year.

You can access content from across the UK and put your knowledge to the test with quizzes and immediate feedback to help you learn from your decision making.

Year Four Student Doctor Maria Cameron believes CAPSULE is a valuable resource.

“I use Capsule for many reasons, one of which being that it has a wide array of questions involving diagnosis and management which are incredibly useful for consolidating knowledge picked up on the wards and in clinics.

I like to use the quiz function to make my own custom quizzes.

For example, for the neurology rotation, I made a quiz that contains neurology and neurosurgery cases as well as neurology therapeutics, which made it easy to see which elements of the rotation I need to brush up on.

Unlike other quiz platforms, Capsule has a vast collection of questions on ethics, public health and clinical investigation, presented in a case-based format which helps me to understand concepts in context.

I also like the fact that when you get a question wrong you receive an explanation as to why, which means I’m less likely to make that mistake again.

You can also use the Capsule app for testing yourself on the go which is great when commuting to placement.

I think that Capsule is best used in combination with other study methods, as a means of testing yourself with case-based questions. If you haven’t already tried Capsule, it’s free through the University, and there’s no extra effort needed to make your own questions since they’re already made for you. What’s not to like?”

Year Five Student Doctor Peter Cox is finding CAPSULE a useful tool after a year away completing an intercalated MRes degree in Biomedical Sciences and Translational Medicine at the University of Liverpool. 

“Having just returned from intercalation, I’ve been using CAPSULE ahead of placement weeks to refresh my memory on the numerous topics I’m a bit rusty on. I’ve found it useful covering the core content but also highlighting areas where I might need to double check my notes and just have a look over certain conditions. 

I’ve noticed the engaging format of actively thinking and answering questions to be of more value than reading notes or watching YouTube videos/lectures, where my mind has a tendency to wander.

Each question is followed by a nugget of knowledge, providing a concise explanation behind the answer. 

The nature of CAPSULE makes it easy to dip in and out. You can spend 5 – 10 minutes answering 1 or 2 cases every now and again, which works for me and my concentration spans, and after a while it all adds up.” 

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