Internal Medicine Clerkship Directors' opinion regarding clinical input in the preclinical years: the 2002 CDIM basic science survey results

Input from both basic science and clinical faculty members is needed to promote further integration of medical curricula.

To assess current views of clerkship directors about the role and relationship of the basic sciences to clinical years in medical education.

As part of the 2002 Annual CDIM Survey, questions regarding basic science curriculum were included; 89 of 123 CDIM members responded (72%).

Overall, respondents felt participation from both basic science and clinical faculty members is necessary to define basic science course content. Nearly 89% of clerkship directors indicated curricular review should be collaborative and interdepartmental; 93% felt that this review effort should occur frequently. Supporting the growing philosophy that the structure of the preclinical years should involve increased clinically relevant integration, 58% favored an integrated organ system approach rather than the traditional departmental structure (18%). In addition, in order of ranking, respondents felt that small group (M = 2.0 +/- 0.9) and problem-based learning (M = 2.1 +/- 1.1) are better approaches than the standard lecture format (M = 2.8 +/- 1.2). Although clerkship directors recognized the need for increased clinical input in the preclinical years, many reported a lack of knowledge regarding the amount of clinical exposure students received in the basic science years (33%), frequency of peer review of the basic science courses (20%), and who performed peer review of the basic science courses at their institution (36%).

Medical clerkship directors believe that basic science education should be developed collaboratively, organized by organ system, and presented in small groups.