Abstract: Objective To explore the application of case-based learning(CBL) approach in the basic medical stage for eight-year clinical medical program. Methods A total of 320 students from the eight-year clinical medicine program at Peking Union Medical College in the grades of 2014—2015 and 2019—2020 were selected as the study subjects. These students were divided into two groups, 162 students in the classes of 2014 and 2015 as the control group, and 158 students in the classes of 2019 and 2020 as the experimental group. The students in the control group received classic teaching in the basic medicine stage characterized by traditional lectures as the main teaching method. The students in the experimental group received traditional lectures supplemented by CBL. In this study, the cardiovascular system was taken as an example, and the assessment scores and questionnaires of the two groups of students were collected in order to evaluate the teaching effectiveness and to obtain timely teaching feedback. Results Traditional lecture combined with CBL method significantly improved the theory assessment scores of students in the experimental group, stimulated learning interest and intrinsic motivation, and enhanced team learning and problem-solving ability. Students believed that CBL teaching could effectively improve the ability to link theory to clinical practice. In addition, CBL teaching method encouraged the interaction between teachers and students and improved teaching efficiency. Conclusions Well-designing and well-organized CBL teaching from multiple levels, including teachers, students, and curricula, can be better accepted and acknowledged by students from eight-year clinical medical program at the stage of basic medical education.

Key words: case-based learning, basic medicine, eight-year medical program, clinical medicine