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Care Across the Life Cycle: Results of an Integrated Pediatric, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Geriatric Medical Student Clerkship

Purpose: The authors explore medical knowledge attainment and course evaluation data in Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology after the implementation of a novel, three-phase undergraduate medical school education curriculum called ForWard. In ForWard, the two clerkships were shortened from six to four weeks and combined with geriatrics to form an integrated 12-week clinical block.

Background: The traditional structure for clinical clerkships are specialty specific rotations. Due to evolving needs of both patients and learners, there has been interest in integrating the clinical fields during delivery of undergraduate medical education. With any curricular change, it is important to evaluate the learning outcomes.

Methods: Pediatric and Obstetrics and Gynecology NBME subject exam scores were compared prior to (n=180) and after (n=162) the implementation of the ForWard curriculum using an analysis of variance with covariate (ANCOVA).  Student satisfaction with the traditional and ForWard curriculum were determined based on post-clerkship evaluation forms and compared using unpaired t-tests.

Results: The unadjusted mean NBME Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology subject examination scores were 77.1 and 80.0 in the traditional curriculum and 76.9 and 79.3 in the ForWard curriculum (p=0.83) and (p=0.37). The mean Pediatric and Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship evaluation scores in the traditional curriculum were 77.1 (SD 7.6) and 80.0 (SD 6.9) compared to 76.9 (SD 7.9) (95%CI -1.84-1.47) and 79.3 (SD 7.7) (95%CI -2.26-0.85) in the ForWard curriculum.

Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2020, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Osteopathic Faculty, Medical Knowledge, UME, Assessment, General Ob-Gyn,