Learning Medical Terminology in Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases Using Concept Mapping: Case University of Medicine

Medical English language has developed quickly over the past few years. Concept mapping (CM) is an effective tool in teaching and learning, however ,this strategy has not been evaluated among medical terminology (MT) in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).The purpose of this study is to introduce concept mapping to improve learning medical terminology in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases course, different skills and also to determine if concept mapping increases medical learners' capability to correctly interpret medical terminology in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Participants were fourth year medical learners (n=100) from the university of medicine Algiers in Algeria; they were randomly divided into two groups of (50), one group attending the traditional programme, the other the innovative programme. Learner performance was controlled using written knowledge tests. The Learners also evaluated the suitability of the learning process using a 7-item survey. The results of this study showed that the learners gave extremely positive ratings for the innovative course. So concept mapping is a strategy that can help medical learners, with their efforts towards meaningful learning and to enhance their different reasoning and learning skills, as well as their deeper understanding of medical terminology in risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.