Developing an objective based curriculum for a family practice residency

Although there is a preponderance of articles on behavioral objectives in education, few address the process by which objectives are developed and agreed upon in a residency training program. The process by which objectives are developed is critical to their eventual implementation. The development and implementation of objectives are particular concerns in family practice residencies which, because of their broad based content, are uniquely dependent on other departments for portions of the residency training program. This paper describes an approach for developing curriculum objectives in a Family Practice Residency Program which emphasized the personal involvement of individuals who would be instrumental in implementing the curriculum, such as program directors, coordinators of "other" specialty rotations,and resident representatives. This approach, although time-consuming, resulted in well-formulated objectives that could be implemented. Further, this approach allowed for intensive interaction among various faculty members representing many fields, resulting in increased mutual understanding and appreciation.