A multidisciplinary course on injury prevention and control for medical students

Medical student education has begun to embrace integration across specialties in order to improve understanding of diseases. The Medical College of Wisconsin's Trauma and Injury Control course was developed to expose students to the science, principles, and practice of injury prevention and control, with emphasis on collaboration among disciplines. This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of that course.

This retrospective study evaluated learner satisfaction and knowledge gained during a fourth-year selective from March 2007 to 2009. The educational experience provided unique activities developed through an interprofessional approach. Student assessment included oral presentations, small-group discussions, and participation in activities. Students evaluated the quality of the experience using written narrative evaluations. Two independent, blinded raters analyzed student narratives using the constant comparative method associated with grounded theory.

Thirty-seven students completed the course and provided comments. Evaluations demonstrated high satisfaction. Five themes emerged as strengths and outcomes: (1) recognition of injury as preventable, (2) variety of interactive educational experiences, (3) understanding physician's role in injury policy, (4) opportunity to see the system of injury care, (5) recognition of injury as a disease. Criticisms of the course related to problems with coordination.

Horizontal integration of the teaching of injury is feasible and should be promoted as a valued instructional technique.