Medical education: revolution, devolution and evolution in curriculum philosophy and design.

Full Abstract

Contemporary medical education must train skilled and compassionate health care professionals who are rigorous in their approach to patient care and their pursuit of knowledge and solutions. Problem-based learning has been widely introduced, but there is no evidence that it leads to better outcomes than more traditional programs, and fundamental gaps in conceptual knowledge may result. Recently, emphasis has been placed on a solid grounding in underlying concepts combined with a systems-based approach, and ability to transfer information and solve problems. Integrating traditional scientific and clinical disciplines with progressive and continuous assessment, may be a better means of achieving the combined aims of clinically relevant curriculum design, vertical integration of medical knowledge, and facilitation of the continuum of training. Being adaptable and flexible, cognisant of costs, and driven by evidence are key features of delivering medical education and contemporary medical practice. Educational research should lead to continuous improvement, but innovation without evaluation and attention to costs may create as many, or more, problems as are solved.

Author information

Author/s: Wittert, Gary A (GA); Nelson, Adam J (AJ);

Affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. gary.wittert(-atsign-)adelaide.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Medical journal of Australia (Med J Aust), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 191 (issue 1) : pp 35-7

Dates: Created 2009/07/07; Completed 2009/08/28;

PMID: 19580536, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/28/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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