BACKGROUND: Curriculum planning is an essential process at any institution of learning. Currently, at Indiana University, a 1-week required otorhinolaryngology clerkship is being considered for removal from the curriculum, and this exposure is planned for integration into other primary care clerkships. A data collection system for patient encounters was created to obtain objective quantitative data about ear, nose, and throat conditions in the family medicine clerkship. METHODS: A total of 445 students filled out 56,151 patient encounter forms that contained the diagnoses, patient age, student comfort levels, and student responsibilities. RESULTS: Of the 56,151 encounters, 22.9% involved a condition involving an ear, nose, or throat (ENT) diagnosis, and the overall top-10 diagnoses reflect a typical family practice. Few students reported being given the opportunity to perform procedures. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that students are receiving sufficient practice in taking patient histories and performing initial patient physicals for ENT cases and that they see a sufficient number of ENT cases. However, students had more limited opportunity to perform and/or assist with ENT procedures or to be involved with patient education and ENT counseling. The number of ENT cases in the third-year clerkship is sufficient, and the experience is mostly more than adequate. Our study indicates that ENT training is a significant part of the family medicine clerkship, and curriculum integration is possible, though concerns about procedural skills will need to be addressed.
BACKGROUND: Curriculum planning is an essential process at any institution of learning. Currently, at Indiana University, a 1-week required otorhinolaryngology clerkship is being considered for removal from the curriculum, and this exposure is planned for integration into other primary care clerkships. A data collection system for patient encounters was created to obtain objective quantitative data about ear, nose, and throat conditions in the family medicine clerkship. METHODS: A total of 445 students filled out 56,151 patient encounter forms that contained the diagnoses, patient age, student comfort levels, and student responsibilities. RESULTS: Of the 56,151 encounters, 22.9% involved a condition involving an ear, nose, or throat (ENT) diagnosis, and the overall top-10 diagnoses reflect a typical family practice. Few students reported being given the opportunity to perform procedures. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that students are receiving sufficient practice in taking patient histories and performing initial patient physicals for ENT cases and that they see a sufficient number of ENT cases. However, students had more limited opportunity to perform and/or assist with ENT procedures or to be involved with patient education and ENT counseling. The number of ENT cases in the third-year clerkship is sufficient, and the experience is mostly more than adequate. Our study indicates that ENT training is a significant part of the family medicine clerkship, and curriculum integration is possible, though concerns about procedural skills will need to be addressed.
Authors: Brendan D Sorichetti; Julie Pauwels; Thomas B Jacobs; Neil K Chadha; Emelie L Kozak; Frederick K Kozak Journal: Can Med Educ J Date: 2022-03-02