Return to basic sciences after clinical experience in undergraduate medical training

As part of the restructured undergraduate medical curriculum at McGill Medical School, a return to basic sciences was introduced in the students' final year. This follows the completion of the formal portion of their undergraduate clinical education. This paper describes this unique return to the basic science programme including the rationale behind the change and the effects of this programme on student learning, and student attitudes towards the programme. Final-year medical students in 1978 and 1981 were tested on educational and attitudinal variables. Data were collected using achievement tests, questionnaires and interviews. The findings of the study indicated that the major objectives of the programme, which were to facilitate student learning in greater depth and to integrate basic sciences with clinical knowledge, were achieved. The programme was enthusiastically received by the students in 1978 and also in 1981, indicating the outcome of the return to the basic science programme to be more than a 'Hawthorne effect' as suspected in 1978. The concept of a return to basic science is recommended for consideration by medical faculties.