Does medical student knowledge of anticoagulation differ by future intended practice?

The scope of medical student knowledge may differ by the student's future intended specialty.

To determine whether medical student knowledge of and confidence with anticoagulation differed by perceived likelihood of managing anticoagulation in future practice.

One hundred and twenty-three third- and fourth-year medical students (41% response rate) participated in a cross-sectional web-based survey. We assessed whether perceived likelihood of managing anticoagulation in future intended practice was associated with anticoagulation knowledge and confidence with managing anticoagulation.

Out of 24 questions assessing anticoagulation knowledge, the mean percentage correct was 58% (SD 29%). Anticoagulation knowledge did not differ by perceived likelihood of managing anticoagulation as part of their future practice. However, students predicting higher likelihood of managing anticoagulation in their future practice were significantly more confident about their abilities to manage anticoagulation (p = 0.005).

Using anticoagulation as a model, we did not find evidence that medical student knowledge differed by perceived scope of future practice. Future study will need to confirm whether range and depth of medical knowledge differs by medical students' intended future practice and specialties.