Curriculum development in community health: drift or shift?

Area of Science:

• Public Health Education
• Curriculum Development
• Higher Education in Health Sciences

Background:

• Community health curricula require continuous adaptation to remain relevant.
• The University of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica is evolving its community health program.
• Understanding curriculum change drivers is crucial for health education.

Observation:

• The UWI community health curriculum is characterized by its eclectic and dynamic nature.
• Curriculum relevance is actively maintained through responsiveness to the external environment.
• Change processes can range from incremental adjustments to radical overhauls.

Findings:

• The paper analyzes the content of the emerging community health curriculum at UWI.
• It identifies key factors influencing the curriculum's ongoing development.
• The study explores the specific processes of change within this academic program.

Implications:

• Insights into curriculum adaptation can inform other institutions globally.
• Understanding change factors aids in strategic planning for health education programs.
• This review contributes to the discourse on effective community health training.