Abstract: Objective　To explore the impact of goal-oriented situational teaching on the theoretical knowledge, skills, and core competencies of interns in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Methods　A retrospective study was conducted on 110 medical interns in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from May 2022 to July 2023. Based on the teaching methods, they were divided into the goal-oriented teaching group (n=57) and the conventional teaching group (n=53). The conventional teaching group used conventional teaching methods, while the goal-oriented teaching group adopted goal oriented situational teaching. The theoretical knowledge scores, skill scores, self-evaluation of abilities, teaching effectiveness evaluation, core competencies, and satisfaction with teaching methods were compared between the two groups. Results　The scores of the goal-oriented teaching group, including theoretical assessment, case analysis, and skill operation scores, were significantly higher than those of the conventional teaching group (P＜0.05); The overall excellence rate of self-assessed abilities in the goal-oriented teaching group was 92.98%, which was significantly higher than the 77.36% in the conventional teaching group (P＜0.05); The interns in the goal-oriented teaching group gave significantly higher scores on the quality of teaching management (including teaching methods, hardware facilities, teaching attitude, academic competence, and medical ethics) than those in the conventional teaching group (P＜0.05). The core competencies of the goal-oriented teaching group, including communication skills, personal traits, nursing skills, critical thinking skills, professional development skills, and overall competency score, were significantly higher than those of the conventional teaching group (P＜0.05); The overall satisfaction rate of the goal-oriented teaching group was 94.74%, which was significantly higher than the 81.13% of the conventional teaching group (P＜0.05).Conclusion　Goal oriented situational teaching has achieved significant results in the training of interns in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. It can improve their theoretical knowledge, practical operation skills, and core competencies.

Key words: goal-oriented situational teaching, otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery, core competence, clinical teaching