Teaching sociology to medical students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Sociology
• Behavioural Sciences

Background:

• Medical curricula increasingly include behavioural science courses to enhance interpersonal skills.
• Existing courses often fail to demonstrate desired behavioral changes and are perceived as unengaging by students.
• Sociology's role in medical education requires ongoing assessment and adaptation to ensure effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a medical sociology course.
• To modify the course based on initial evaluation findings.
• To re-evaluate the course after modifications to assess its impact on student attitudes and values.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a medical sociology course.
• Systematic evaluation of the course's effectiveness.
• Course modification informed by evaluation data.
• Re-evaluation of the modified course.

Main Results:

• Initial course delivery did not significantly alter student attitudes or values.
• Post-modification, the course demonstrated a capacity to influence student attitudes and values.
• The application of sociological concepts directly to the healthcare field was crucial for observed changes.

Conclusions:

• Sociology courses in medical education can be effective in changing student attitudes and values.
• Continuous evaluation and modification are essential for optimizing the impact of such courses.
• The explicit linkage of sociological concepts to practical healthcare scenarios is vital for achieving desired educational outcomes.