Residency spiral concussion curriculum design

Resident-focused concussion curricula that measure learner behaviours are currently unavailable. We sought to fill this gap by developing and iteratively implementing a Spiral Integrated Concussion Curriculum (SICC).

Programme elements of the concussion curriculum include academic half-days (AHDs) and three half-day clinics for first- and second-year family medicine residents. Our SICC utilises social cognitive learning principles, the constructivism paradigm and utilisation-focused evaluation.

A mixed-method evaluation with a pre-/post-test design and interviews was utilised. Surveys and knowledge tests were used to measure knowledge and confidence pre-AHD and 6 months post-AHD. Interviews at 6 months explored programme perception and behaviour change. Of the 141 programme attendees, 114 (80%) participated in the pre-intervention knowledge test and 33 completed the pre- and post-AHD test. Immediate pre-/post-testing demonstrated statistically significant improvement in knowledge (p = 0.042). At 6 months post-AHD, residents in Cycle 1 (n = 5) had a knowledge decrease of 3.33% (p > 0.05). Residents in Cycle 2 (n = 7) had a knowledge increase of 11.6% (p > 0.05). Both cycles of residents had an increase in confidence (Cycle 1: 65.0% [p = 0.025]; Cycle 2: 62.8% [p = 0.0014]). Residents (5 out of 6) reported positive behavioural changes at 6 months. Valued programme elements included concussion diagnosis and management, the self-study guide resource and the organised structure.

The SICC enriched these residents' learning and fostered sustained knowledge improvement and behavioural change at 6 months post-intervention. This approach may provide a workable design for future competency-based curriculum development.