Does medical student knowledge of anticoagulation differ by future intended practice?
Melissa K Accordino1, Philip A Masters, Cynthia H Chuang
1Weill Cornell Medical College, USA.
Medical Teacher
|September 22, 2010
Summary
Medical student knowledge of anticoagulation did not vary by intended specialty. However, students expecting to manage anticoagulation reported greater confidence in their skills.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Medical student knowledge may be influenced by their chosen future medical specialty.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for curriculum development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if medical students' knowledge and confidence regarding anticoagulation management differ based on their perceived likelihood of using it in future practice.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional web-based survey was administered to 123 third- and fourth-year medical students.
- The survey assessed anticoagulation knowledge and confidence in relation to the perceived likelihood of managing anticoagulation in future practice.
Main Results:
- Overall, students correctly answered 58% of the 24 anticoagulation knowledge questions.
- No significant difference in anticoagulation knowledge was found based on the perceived likelihood of future management.
- Students anticipating a higher likelihood of managing anticoagulation reported significantly greater confidence (p = 0.005).
Conclusions:
- Anticoagulation knowledge among medical students did not appear to differ based on their intended future practice scope.
- Further research is needed to confirm if the breadth and depth of medical knowledge vary by students' intended specialties.
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