Judith M Binstock 1 , Maria A Pino 2 , Louis H Primavera 3 . Show Affiliations »
Abstract
PURPOSE: Medical students must be provided the basic science knowledge appropriate and applicable for preparing them for best-practice medicine. To date, there have been no documented studies in the USA that have directly surveyed practicing physicians on their perspectives of their basic science/preclinical medical school education and how it could be modified to help them deliver best patient care. This study was the first to examine this information. METHOD: A survey was administered to the alumni of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem, NY (2011-2018), with questions on examining perspectives on basic science disciplines, the need for a basic science refresher course, and other educational topics. In addition, questions relating to demographics and type of medical practice were also asked. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. RESULTS: (1) Gender (N = 122): 55% male and 44% female; (2) medical specialty (N = 107): 51.40% Primary Care physicians (Family medicine, Internal medicine, Pediatrics), 48.60% Other Specialties; (3) top Disciplines that "should have more": Physiology (41.1%), Pharmacology (39.3%), and Preventative Medicine/Public Health (39.3%); Top disciplines that "should have less": Histology Laboratory (38.32%), Embryology (35.51%), Histology (didactic) (28.30%) (N = 107); (4) top topics "most important" to be included in curriculum: Analysis of Journal Articles (70.10%), Clinical Cases (70.1%), and Early Patient Exposure (64.5%) (N = 107); (5) presentation of a clinically relevant Basic Science refresher course had a positive response (84.4%) (N = 107). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacology, Physiology, Clinical Cases, Journal Article Analysis, and Early Patient exposure were among topics requiring "more" in preclinical education. A clinically relevant basic science course was deemed useful. The perspectives of practicing physicians should be included when designing future medical school curriculums. © International Association of Medical Science Educators 2020.
PURPOSE: Medical students must be provided the basic science knowledge appropriate and applicable for preparing them for best-practice medicine. To date, there have been no documented studies in the USA that have directly surveyed practicing physicians on their perspectives of their basic science/preclinical medical school education and how it could be modified to help them deliver best patient care. This study was the first to examine this information. METHOD: A survey was administered to the alumni of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem, NY (2011-2018), with questions on examining perspectives on basic science disciplines, the need for a basic science refresher course, and other educational topics. In addition, questions relating to demographics and type of medical practice were also asked. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. RESULTS: (1) Gender (N = 122): 55% male and 44% female; (2) medical specialty (N = 107): 51.40% Primary Care physicians (Family medicine, Internal medicine, Pediatrics), 48.60% Other Specialties; (3) top Disciplines that "should have more": Physiology (41.1%), Pharmacology (39.3%), and Preventative Medicine/Public Health (39.3%); Top disciplines that "should have less": Histology Laboratory (38.32%), Embryology (35.51%), Histology (didactic) (28.30%) (N = 107); (4) top topics "most important" to be included in curriculum: Analysis of Journal Articles (70.10%), Clinical Cases (70.1%), and Early Patient Exposure (64.5%) (N = 107); (5) presentation of a clinically relevant Basic Science refresher course had a positive response (84.4%) (N = 107). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacology, Physiology, Clinical Cases, Journal Article Analysis, and Early Patient exposure were among topics requiring "more" in preclinical education. A clinically relevant basic science course was deemed useful. The perspectives of practicing physicians should be included when designing future medical school curriculums. © International Association of Medical Science Educators 2020.
Entities: Chemical
Keywords:
Basic science disciplines; Best-practice medicine; Integration; Medical school curriculum
Year: 2020
PMID: 34457671 PMCID: PMC8368472 DOI: 10.1007/s40670-019-00903-1
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Med Sci Educ ISSN: 2156-8650