Practicing primary care physicians' perspectives on the junior surgical clerkship

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Primary Care

Background:

• The role of generalist physicians is evolving.
• Medical education must adapt to changing healthcare needs.
• Surgical clerkships are a key component of physician training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess primary care physicians' perceptions of surgical clerkship content.
• To identify essential lecture topics and clinical skills for third-year medical students.
• To inform curriculum development for generalist physician training.

Main Methods:

• A 72-item questionnaire was distributed to practicing primary care physicians.
• Physicians rated the importance of lecture topics and clinical skills using a 5-point Likert scale.
• Random sampling from the state medical association ensured a representative physician cohort.

Main Results:

• A response rate of nearly 70% was achieved.
• Physicians overwhelmingly agreed that surgical management pathways and referral criteria should be emphasized.
• While some differences existed, a consensus emerged on core educational needs.

Conclusions:

• Undergraduate surgical curricula require re-evaluation in light of current healthcare demands.
• Curricula should prioritize training generalist physicians on appropriate surgical referral.
• Adapting medical education is essential for meeting the needs of future generalist physicians.