Background/Purpose
Medical students and internal medicine residents frequently rotate through the division of rheumatology, but there have been inconsistencies in specialty-based training. We hypothesized that the development of a structured curriculum is an effective and consistent method of improving students’ and residents’ core content knowledge of rheumatology during the elective. Our aim was to develop a comprehensive curriculum with structured, appropriate and timely information.
Methods
Utilizing rheumatology textbooks, relevant journal articles and educational websites, such as the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) website (Rheumatology Image Bank, Clinical Practice Guidelines and Rheum2Learn), we created a series of modules that address key learning objectives in rheumatology. The modules were organized into a series of interactive lectures for one hour three times a week. In addition to the lectures, rotators were required to attend clinic and give a presentation at the completion of their rotation.
To measure the effectiveness of this structured, module-based curriculum, we created a 25 question multiple-choice exam that was administered at the start of the rotation (pre-test) and again at completion of the rotation (post-test). Both pre-test and post-tests were scored together at the end of the rotation.
Pre and post-test results were analyzed using a two-tailed paired T-test.
Rotators were given a survey at the completion of their elective. It was comprised of questions relative to the teaching sessions as well as open-ended questions related to further improvement of the curriculum.
Results
Twenty-two rotators completed both pre-test and post-test examinations and were included in the data analysis. Rotators that did not complete both pre-test and post-test were excluded.
The mean post-test score (21.77, SD 3.23) showed significant improvement from the mean pre-test score (17.59, SD 3.66) at a p-value of 0.00024 as shown in figure 1.
In the final survey, rotators consistently expressed that the dedicated teaching sessions were a helpful addition to the rotation. They also suggested that we continue to expand and include more topics.
Conclusion
A comprehensive structured curriculum with consistent information for rheumatology helps to improve core content knowledge of rheumatic diseases and aids in consolidation of the clinical experience for medical students and residents during their rheumatology elective.
Disclosure:
S. Manocha,
None;
I. Cobb,
None;
S. Hassan,
None;
S. P. Ballou,
None;
M. N. Magrey,
None.
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