What Physicians Wished They Would Have Learned in Medical School: a Survey

Medical students must be provided the basic science knowledge appropriate and applicable for preparing them for best-practice medicine. To date, there have been no documented studies in the USA that have directly surveyed practicing physicians on their perspectives of their basic science/preclinical medical school education and how it could be modified to help them deliver best patient care. This study was the first to examine this information.

A survey was administered to the alumni of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem, NY (2011-2018), with questions on examining perspectives on basic science disciplines, the need for a basic science refresher course, and other educational topics. In addition, questions relating to demographics and type of medical practice were also asked. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.

(1) Gender (N = 122): 55% male and 44% female; (2) medical specialty (N = 107): 51.40% Primary Care physicians (Family medicine, Internal medicine, Pediatrics), 48.60% Other Specialties; (3) top Disciplines that "should have more": Physiology (41.1%), Pharmacology (39.3%), and Preventative Medicine/Public Health (39.3%); Top disciplines that "should have less": Histology Laboratory (38.32%), Embryology (35.51%), Histology (didactic) (28.30%) (N = 107); (4) top topics "most important" to be included in curriculum: Analysis of Journal Articles (70.10%), Clinical Cases (70.1%), and Early Patient Exposure (64.5%) (N = 107); (5) presentation of a clinically relevant Basic Science refresher course had a positive response (84.4%) (N = 107).

Pharmacology, Physiology, Clinical Cases, Journal Article Analysis, and Early Patient exposure were among topics requiring "more" in preclinical education. A clinically relevant basic science course was deemed useful. The perspectives of practicing physicians should be included when designing future medical school curriculums.