Medical Students' attitudes toward basic sciences: influence of a primary care curriculum

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.1982.tb01246.x
• Publication Date: 2009-01-30T10:52:48Z
• Authors: MAGGI WEST; S. P. MENNIN; A. KAUFMAN; W. GALEY
• Keywords: Coursework; Relevance; Popularity

The emerging popularity of family medicine and primary care among medical students with an attendant pressure for clinical relevance in pre-clinical coursework early exposure has raised questions the minds many academicians about Students' perceived value basic sciences such educational environment. A comparison was made attitudes toward between two, concurrent, school curricula at University New Mexico School Medicine. conventional curriculum offers a teacher-centered, 2-year taught predominantly by scientists lecture format. experimental entitled Primary Care Curriculum (PCC), student-centered, which pertinent science learning is derived primarily from common, care, patient problems, discussed small group tutorials. There are no formal lectures. Half tutors clinicians, half scientists. Attitude scales were administered two successive classes both beginning first second terms year. Increased cynicism its to future practice observed conventional, but not PCC students. This finding lends support hypothesis that modification methods general relevant, experience particular can favourably influence sciences.