Comparison of two types of paediatric curricula

Paediatrics is taught in the fourth year at two different hospitals in Leeds with a common examination at the end of the courses. Apparent discrepancies in the results obtained between students attached to the hospitals prompted a comparison of the results over a 2-year period. The paediatric curriculum in hospital A is taught in an integrated design with obstetrics/gynaecology whereas hospital B follows a more conventional discipline-based module. Significant differences were found with consistently lower results achieved from the integrated course. Further analysis of the students' abilities by assessment of two examinations in pathology where all students are taught in the same course revealed that students subsequently assigned to hospital A were significantly less able. This study highlighted the importance of further evaluation before assuming that the curriculum design is solely to blame for differences in final assessments. However, continued dissatisfaction with the integrated course design by both students and teachers still necessitates review of the curriculum design.