Abstract: Objective To evaluate a case-based learning (CBL) method in the basic medicine module of cardiovascular system integration course for students from 4+4 pilot class at Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), and to optimize the method based on feedbacks from learners. Methods The students of 4+4 medical teaching pilot class grade 2020 in PUMC were selected as the research objects, CBL with 6 class hours was carried out according to the content of basic medicine module in cardiovascular system integration teaching. Online examinations, questionnaire survey and teacher-student discussion were used to evaluate the teaching effect. Results The examination scores were enhanced in 87.5% (28/32) of the students and the average score of all the students was significantly higher after the CBL teaching as compared to those before the CBL teaching. Questionnaire survey and teacher-student discussion showed that the majority of the students believed that CBL teaching method was helpful in improving the learning of basic knowledge of cardiovascular system, stimulating their learning interest, and promoting the capacity building of clinical reasoning. Conclusions The application of CBL teaching method in cardiovascular system integration courses may improve students' understanding knowledge and enhance teaching quality and learning outcomes.

Key words: case-based learning, organ-systems-based curriculum, basic medical course, cardiovascular system