Alcoholism curriculum development: an examination of the process

Alcoholism is one of several topics that may be integrated into family medicine clerkship teaching. This article focuses on the process of curriculum development in alcoholism. The process is traced from its beginnings in a third-year clerkship to its integration into the medical school curriculum and other areas of medical education. Strengths and pitfalls in this project are discussed. Enlisting community support and field testing newly developed strategies are emphasized as successful methods. Less successful in this project, though equally important, are faculty development and long-term evaluation. Recommendations for curriculum development in similar projects are made.