Development and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Translational Course Using Rheumatoid Arthritis as a Model for...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Rheumatology
• Interprofessional Healthcare

Background:

• Chronic illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) necessitate multidisciplinary patient care.
• Integrating basic science with clinical application is crucial for medical training.
• Effective management of chronic conditions relies on coordinated efforts from diverse health professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a 1-week educational course for medical students during their clinical clerkship year.
• To utilize rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a model for teaching chronic illness management.
• To demonstrate the importance of interprofessional health teams in managing chronic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Course implementation during the clinical clerkship year.
• Integration of basic science concepts with a clinical focus on RA.
• Utilization of active learning sessions led by faculty from various health science programs.

Main Results:

• Successful development and implementation of the 1-week course.
• Demonstrated the critical role of interprofessional health teams in patient care.
• Highlighted the integration of basic science and clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• The developed course effectively educates students on managing chronic illnesses like RA.
• The course design emphasizes the essential contribution of interprofessional collaboration.
• The model is replicable for other chronic medical conditions, enhancing healthcare education.