Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology
Published on: September 28, 2022
Implementing a Curriculum to Advance Integrative Medicine Education for Medical Students: Early Lessons and Next
Karen Koffler1, Kassandra M Bosire2, Teresa Glynn1,3
1Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Osher Center for Integrative Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Introduction:
There is a growing demand for more thoughtful and holistic healthcare. Whole-person integrative medicine (IM) is cost-effective and clinically effective for enhancing health and well-being. However, existing knowledge gaps in IM among healthcare professionals prevent the application of IM practices in patient care. This project aimed to develop and refine an IM elective to improve health education and learning, thereby enhancing future physicians' knowledge, skills, and self-care practices.
Methods:
Three separate cohorts of third- and fourth-year medical students (n = 18) participated in a four-week immersive IM elective. Weekly and postelective evaluations were used to assess changes in attitudes, behaviors, and self-reported IM knowledge for each cohort. Descriptive analyses were performed, and just-in-time student feedback was used to iteratively refine the IM curriculum.
Results:
Students attended at least 85% of class days. Anonymous weekly course evaluation ratings for meeting course expectations, education depth, and usefulness for patient care ranged between 4 and 5 on a Likert scale, with 5 as the most favorable. Postcourse evaluations and the impact of the course on attitudes related to patient care, personal lifestyle, and self-awareness also ranged from 4 to 5. Knowledge scores significantly improved (p < .01), with moderate to large effect sizes (Hedges g's > 0.8).
Conclusions:
The implementation of an immersive elective curriculum in IM resulted in high levels of satisfaction, changes in attitudes and behaviors, as well as knowledge scores. Just-in-time feedback and curricular revisions made this curriculum effective for student training. We consider this our first step in integrating IM into the required curriculum for all students, ensuring that, as educators, we close the knowledge gap in IM among future physicians. Empowered with that knowledge, we anticipate them serving their future patients with a more holistic and patient-centered approach.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching II: Planning and Implementation
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
01:27Nursing Clinical Information System
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include:
01:15Nursing Implementation
The five steps to implementing effective nursing care include reassessing the patient, reviewing and revising the existing nursing care plan, organizing the resources and care delivery, anticipating and preventing complications, and implementing nursing interventions.
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II