The availability of diseases for medical students in a university hospital

The Dutch national objectives for the education of medical doctors (in terms of diseases), expressed in the form of a student compiled logbook, must be attained at the time of graduation. The diseases that are required are divided into the categories 'essential' and 'compulsory choice'. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the inpatient department of internal nedicine offers medical students sufficient diseases during two four-week periods in the clerkship, such that the required diseases related to Internal Medicine as described in our logbook can be met. At five subdivisions, medical doctors recorded the diseases available for students. Of the 37 'essential' diseases students may be expected to encounter during one four-week stay in the department: 57% in internal medicine-I; 55% in internal medicine-II; 47% in nephrology; 41% in respiratory medicine; 13% in oncology. Of the 65 'compulsory choice' diseases the number of diseases encountered is respectively: 78%; 57%; 41%; 34%; 33%. We conclude that a considerable number of the diseases required by the Blueprint and therefore by the government is available in two four-week periods in the inpatient clerkship, when this comprises a stay at a general subdivision and a specialist-oriented subdivision. To be more precise about the fulfilment of the logbook requirements, further research is necessary.