What methods do Medicine students employ to memorise facts when studying?

[Aussie Research Student]

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I'm an Australian high school student researching the most effective techniques to improve your ability to remember information, with a focus on Medical students. I would just like to know how you memorise lists of facts or tables of information, maybe some specific methods you use... Would appreciate your input as this is for a final year Research Project - thanks a million if you can post a reply.

 

[bashwell]

I'm an Australian high school student researching the most effective techniques to improve your ability to remember information, with a focus on Medical students. I would just like to know how you memorise lists of facts or tables of information, maybe some specific methods you use... Would appreciate your input as this is for a final year Research Project - thanks a million if you can post a reply.

Spaced repetition (e.g. Anki).

Since you're Australian, you might like to check out this article on spaced repetition from an Aussie emergency physician (who is part of the very well-known LITFL, FOAMed, etc.). 🙂

 

[Psai]

method: read multiple times and then when you forget read again

 

[scoKraz4]

I draw out stuff to make pictures and they just stick in my head or write stuff over and over. Or a i make a story out of the material but that usually only works for short term memory for me.

 

[Kaustikos]

method: read multiple times and then when you forget read again

Agreed

I draw out stuff to make pictures and they just stick in my head or write stuff over and over. Or a i make a story out of the material but that usually only works for short term memory for me.

Yeah,
I know that slides and pictures are way easier to memorize.

 

[NOsaintsfan]

I start by reading the text or recommended reading like a novel. I don't worry about retaining info or memorization. Then I go through the power points ext. over and over till it sticks.

When you start med school (at least in the US) you will have to do trial and error till you figure out what works best for you, everyone learns differently. The sheer volume of information is something you can't prepare for until you get in.

2 things will eventually happen as you progress through school.

1. Brain plasticity will kick in and you will be able to assimilate information faster and in greater quantities than you ever thought possible.

2. Over time the material won't all be new to you. Eventually you begin to see the same concepts over and over again. As this happens you won't have to read the full texts as much and can rely more and more on review books (first aid, step up, ect.) At some point you will have covered the material enough that using question banks and reading the explinations will be the best most efficient way to do most of your studing. By the time you are studying for step 2 question banks will probably be how you use 65-75% of your study time.

Of course everyone is different but the above is generally how it goes for alot of people I know.

That's what worked for me, it will be trial and error to find what works for you.

 

[Kaustikos]

I start by reading the text or recommended reading like a novel. I don't worry about retaining info or memorization. Then I go through the power points ext. over and over till it sticks.

When you start med school (at least in the US) you will have to do trial and error till you figure out what works best for you, everyone learns differently. The sheer volume of information is something you can't prepare for until you get in.

2 things will eventually happen as you progress through school.

1. Brain plasticity will kick in and you will be able to assimilate information faster and in greater quantities than you ever thought possible.

2. Over time the material won't all be new to you. Eventually you begin to see the same concepts over and over again. As this happens you won't have to read the full texts as much and can rely more and more on review books (first aid, step up, ect.) At some point you will have covered the material enough that using question banks and reading the explinations will be the best most efficient way to do most of your studing. By the time you are studying for step 2 question banks will probably be how you use 65-75% of your study time.

Of course everyone is different but the above is generally how it goes for alot of people I know.

That's what worked for me, it will be trial and error to find what works for you.

Number two is the hard part. I agree with you but getting to number two is what people have problems with. It's not a bad thing, either. It's a reality. I had no problems with first year. Second year introduced actual clinical medicine and it was a mind **** for me. I had to adapt. Get into the "step 2" you speak about. When you do, things become better.

 

[NOsaintsfan]

Number two is the hard part. I agree with you but getting to number two is what people have problems with. It's not a bad thing, either. It's a reality. I had no problems with first year. Second year introduced actual clinical medicine and it was a mind **** for me. I had to adapt. Get into the "step 2" you speak about. When you do, things become better.

It happens both ways though. Some find 2nd year easier to digest, for others year one is a little easier. I do agree that their is a different slant on the material from year one to year 2.

 

[seminoma]

I didn't figure this out until the very end of MS2, but here's my recommendation.

1. Broad overview of a topic
2. Detailed lecture of same topic
3. Review broad overview
4. Do questions
5. Review detailed lecture

So for any rising MS2s reading this, the idea is watch pathoma --> watch school lecture --> read the pathoma chapter you watched --> do robbins questions --> review school lecture before exam.

Alternatively watch pathoma --> read goljan --> skim school powerpoint/pdf for details not mentioned in goljan/pathoma --> read pathoma --> do robbins questions --> review school lecture before exam.

 

[ortnakas]

For "lists and tables of information" like pharmacology: read chapter, make flashcards for chapter, do flashcards. I'm personally devoted to Memorang but there's a variety of flashcard websites.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Or you can use the tried and true --- read until your fall asleep face first into the book and drool all over it -- when you wake up, ingest copious amounts of caffeine and continue reading -- repeat this until sleep deprivation sets in --- have 2 or 3 of your "friends" water-board you Jason Bourne style while screaming the information at you -- then return to reading the book -- the shock alone will embed it into your memory ---

How do I know this? ..... 2 words ----

Intern year

 

[notbobtrustme]

I always pair diseases up.

For example, PMR = GTCA, everyone knows this. What else presents like PMR? Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis, so I paired those diseases up in my mind with PMR. Now what are the differences? PMR -> no ck elevation; dm/pm -> ck elevation. How do you differentiate between pm/dm? DM obv has skin involvement but on biopsy, DM has perimysial involvement while PM is endomysial involvement. If at any point I'm unsure about my train of thought, I'll go read about that respective disease.

When you group diseases like this, it becomes much easier to remember them.

 

[Doctor91]

Hey i am a medical student in my final year and in our semester we have to do medicine plus peads together. And we habe 4 months practically for that.
Can you please tell me how to study both effectively so i remember? I also have a very low concertration span and after some time of reading i start getting a headache..i do watch kaplan pathoma and sometimes najeeb videos and i also write stuff make notes sometimes study on a white board but i just cant seem to remember anything at all and its so frustrating come exam time!!
I study 2 hours a day and sometimes exceed it to 4 hours but i want to know do people learn side by side when they are reading or is it just reading the topic and moving on?

 

[MirrorTodd]

I start by reading the text or recommended reading like a novel. I don't worry about retaining info or memorization. Then I go through the power points ext. over and over till it sticks.

When you start med school (at least in the US) you will have to do trial and error till you figure out what works best for you, everyone learns differently. The sheer volume of information is something you can't prepare for until you get in.

2 things will eventually happen as you progress through school.

1. Brain plasticity will kick in and you will be able to assimilate information faster and in greater quantities than you ever thought possible.

2. Over time the material won't all be new to you. Eventually you begin to see the same concepts over and over again. As this happens you won't have to read the full texts as much and can rely more and more on review books (first aid, step up, ect.) At some point you will have covered the material enough that using question banks and reading the explinations will be the best most efficient way to do most of your studing. By the time you are studying for step 2 question banks will probably be how you use 65-75% of your study time.

Of course everyone is different but the above is generally how it goes for alot of people I know.

That's what worked for me, it will be trial and error to find what works for you.

I have to take issue with that statement because I've come to believe that med school is something that you can totally prepare for. I think that the idea that one should forget about being prepared for med school and take it as it comes should die and that we should be telling people they'd have an easier time in med school if they took a little bit of extra time to prepare for memorizing the minutiae of information and even to come to school prepared with a good baseline knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry. Keep in mind that I'm not saying they should be masters of that ish before starting school...just that they should have a solid foundation (which lessbehonest undergrad does NOT provide).

 

[NOsaintsfan]

I have to take issue with that statement because I've come to believe that med school is something that you can totally prepare for. I think that the idea that one should forget about being prepared for med school and take it as it comes should die and that we should be telling people they'd have an easier time in med school if they took a little bit of extra time to prepare for memorizing the minutiae of information and even to come to school prepared with a good baseline knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry. Keep in mind that I'm not saying they should be masters of that ish before starting school...just that they should have a solid foundation (which lessbehonest undergrad does NOT provide).

I don't disagree however I was talking more about the speed at which you are forced to learn material in medical school. I understand that if you have a better foundation in basic science and anatomy the transition will be easier and I totally agree. As for volume the only thing I can see kinda of coming close would be if you took like 30 hours a semester for 2-3 semesters in a row. I know that may sound crazy but other than actually going to med school that's about the closest thing I can think of. I took 21 hours a few times and while that was tough it really was not even close in terms of simulating the volume of material thrown at you in medical school. That was my experience at least, others may disagree.

 

[NOsaintsfan]

Hey i am a medical student in my final year and in our semester we have to do medicine plus peads together. And we habe 4 months practically for that.
Can you please tell me how to study both effectively so i remember? I also have a very low concertration span and after some time of reading i start getting a headache..i do watch kaplan pathoma and sometimes najeeb videos and i also write stuff make notes sometimes study on a white board but i just cant seem to remember anything at all and its so frustrating come exam time!!
I study 2 hours a day and sometimes exceed it to 4 hours but i want to know do people learn side by side when they are reading or is it just reading the topic and moving on?

It sounds like you're not studying enough. 4 hrs/day? I had to study for like 8-10 but I'm not that smart.

 

[JonnyGucks]

I'm an Australian high school student researching the most effective techniques to improve your ability to remember information, with a focus on Medical students. I would just like to know how you memorise lists of facts or tables of information, maybe some specific methods you use... Would appreciate your input as this is for a final year Research Project - thanks a million if you can post a reply.

No one learns in the same way - even the evidence suggests that there are loads of different types of learners. I'm a junior doctor in England and I found my 1st and 2nd year at Medschool (primarily science-based, similar to your pre-med) hideous, as I wasted hours staring blankly at a textbook and wishing I was anywhere else. Memorising lists just didn't work for me.
What I found was that getting a bit creative with studying helped me so much. Making terrible puns about conditions, writing little puzzles for group work - this sort of thing. Then I started using podcasts (Medpod 101 is a fun one) and apps (Ward Round is a great shout for quizes). Mixing things up really helped me: it could help you too.

As a side note, I found this kind of approach so useful I set up a website based around the whole idea. There's loads of case-based roleplay stuff there, long case podcasts and bitesize videos using Vine. Check it out on www.medisense.org.uk - hope any of the above helps 🙂

 

[CherryRedDracul]

Hey i am a medical student in my final year and in our semester we have to do medicine plus peads together. And we habe 4 months practically for that.
Can you please tell me how to study both effectively so i remember? I also have a very low concertration span and after some time of reading i start getting a headache..i do watch kaplan pathoma and sometimes najeeb videos and i also write stuff make notes sometimes study on a white board but i just cant seem to remember anything at all and its so frustrating come exam time!!
I study 2 hours a day and sometimes exceed it to 4 hours but i want to know do people learn side by side when they are reading or is it just reading the topic and moving on?

How many minutes straight do you study at a time? I have a wild attention span myself so I use the Pomodoro technique: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

 

[dvmhopeful2018]

How many minutes straight do you study at a time? I have a wild attention span myself so I use the Pomodoro technique: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

http://marinaratimer.com/ is my favorite when I'm studying on the computer (basically always) since I listen to music as well and turn my phone on "do not disturb" to eliminate distractions. There are good apps as well.