Medical school accreditation in Australia: Issues involved in assessing major changes and new programs

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) is an independent company for quality assurance and quality improvement in medical education in Australia and New Zealand. Accreditation procedures for the 20 medical schools in these two countries are somewhat different for three different circumstances or stages of school development: existing medical schools, established courses undergoing major changes, and new schools. This paper will outline some issues involved in major changes to existing courses, and new medical school programs. Major changes have included change from a 6 year undergraduate course to a 5 year undergraduate course or 4 year graduate-entry course, introduction of a lateral graduate-entry stream, new domestic site of course delivery, offshore course delivery, joint program between two universities, and major change to curriculum. In the case of a major change assessment, accreditation of the new or revised course may be granted for a period up to two years after the full course has been implemented. In the assessment of proposals for introduction of new medical courses, six issues needing careful consideration have arisen: forward planning, academic staffing, adequate clinical experience, acceptable research program, adequacy of resources, postgraduate training program and employment.

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Preparing future doctors for palliative care: views of course organisers

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2017-001319 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 299-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Steven Walker ◽

Jane Gibbins ◽

Paul Paes ◽

Stephen Barclay ◽

Astrid Adams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Medical School ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

General Medical Council ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Medical Council ◽

Limited Capacity ◽

Web Based ◽

Effective Training

BackgroundEffective training at medical school is essential to prepare new doctors to safely manage patients with palliative care (PC) and end of life care (EOLC) needs. The contribution of undergraduate PC course organisers is central but their collective views regarding role are unknown.ObjectiveTo survey attitudes of PC course organisers regarding their course, organisation, the adequacy of training provided and level of personal satisfaction.MethodsAn anonymised, multifactorial, web-based questionnaire was devised, tested, modified and then sent to lead PC course organisers at all UK medical schools.ResultsData were obtained from all 30 UK medical schools. Organisers agreed/strongly agreed (=agreed) that their PC course was highly rated by students (26, 87%). 25 (83%) agreed their course ‘enabled misconceptions and fears about PC, death, dying and bereavement to be addressed’, ‘delivered quality PC training’ (23, 77%), ‘fulfilled General Medical Council requirements’ (19, 63%), ‘prepared students well to care for patients with PC/EOLC needs’ (18, 60%) and ‘enabled students to visit a hospice and see the role of doctors in caring for the dying’ (17, 57%). Concerns were limited capacity to accommodate students (agreed 20, 66%) and variability in teaching according to location (15, 50%). Most agreed their institution recognised PC training as important (22, 73%), they felt supported by colleagues (21, 70%) and experienced cooperation between stakeholders (20, 67%). All agreed that PC training was essential for undergraduates, while 29 (97%) supported inclusion of a hospice visit in the curriculum. 27 agreed that their role was satisfying (90%), 3 disagreed (10%).ConclusionsApproximately two-thirds of organisers were generally positive about their PC course, institution and role. A minority expressed concerns; these may reflect suboptimal PC training at their medical school and poor preparation of new doctors.

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Clinical specialty training in UK undergraduate medical schools: a retrospective observational study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025403 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. e025403 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hrisheekesh J Vaidya ◽

Alexander W Emery ◽

Emma C Alexander ◽

Angus J McDonnell ◽

Charlotte Burford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Observational Study ◽

Medical School ◽

Clinical Training ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Retrospective Observational Study ◽

Specialty Training ◽

Clinical Specialty ◽

Graduate Entry ◽

School Training ◽

The Relationship

ObjectivesTo determine if increased exposure to clinical specialties at medical school is associated with increased interest in pursuing that specialty as a career after foundation training.DesignA retrospective observational study.Setting31 UK medical schools were asked how much time students spend in each of the clinical specialties. We excluded two schools that were solely Graduate Entry, and two schools were excluded for insufficient information.Main outcome measuresTime spent on clinical placement from UK undergraduate medical schools, and the training destinations of graduates from each school. A general linear model was used to analyse the relationship between the number of weeks spent in a specialty at medical school and the percentage of graduates from that medical school entering each of the Core Training (CT1)/Specialty Training (ST1) specialties directly after Foundation Year 2 (FY2).ResultsStudents spend a median of 85 weeks in clinical training. This includes a median of 28 weeks on medical firms, 15 weeks in surgical firms, and 8 weeks in general practice (GP). In general, the number of training posts available in a specialty was proportionate to the number of weeks spent in medical school, with some notable exceptions including GP. Importantly, we found that the number of weeks spent in a specialty at medical school did not predict the percentage of graduates of that school training in that specialty at CT1/ST1 level (ß coefficient=0.061, p=0.228).ConclusionsThis study found that there was no correlation between the percentage of FY2 doctors appointed directly to a CT1/ST1 specialty and the length of time that they would have spent in those specialties at medical school. This suggests that curriculum adjustments focusing solely on length of time spent in a specialty in medical school would be unlikely to solve recruitment gaps in individual specialties.

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Radiology and the medical student: do increased hours of teaching translate to more radiologists?

BJR|Open ◽

10.1259/bjro.20210074 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cindy Chew ◽

Patrick J O'Dwyer ◽

David Young

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

General Medical Council ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Medical Council ◽

Chi Square ◽

Medical Graduates ◽

Increasing Demand ◽

Radiology Teaching ◽

The Uk

Objectives: The UK has a shortage of Radiologists to meet the increasing demand for radiologic examinations. To encourage more medical students to consider Radiology as a career, increased exposure at undergraduate level has been advocated. The aim of this study was to evaluate if formal Radiology teaching hours at medical school had any association with the number of qualified Radiologists joining the General Medical Council Specialist Register. Methods: Total number of doctors joining the GMC Specialist Register as Clinical Radiologists, and those with a primary medical qualifications awarded in Scotland, was obtained from the GMC (2010–2020). Graduate numbers from all 4 Scottish Medical Schools (2000–2011) were also obtained. Hours of Radiology teaching for medical schools in Scotland were obtained from validated AToMS study. Results: Two hundred and twenty three (6.6%) of 3347 Radiologists added to the GMC Specialist Register between 2010 and 2020 received their primary medical qualification (PMQ) from Scottish Universities. The number of Radiologists from Scottish Universities joining the GMC specialist register was 2.6% of the total number of Scottish Medical Graduates. There was no association between the number of hours (Range 1–30) Radiology was taught to medical students and the number that joined the specialist register as Radiologists (p = 0.54 chi square trend). Conclusion: Increased exposure to Radiology teaching does not influence medical students’ decision to take up Radiology as a career. While continued Radiology exposure remains important, other strategies are required in both the short and long term to ensure radiology services are maintained without detriment to patients. Advances in knowledge: Increased hours of Radiology teaching in medical school was not associated with increased radiologists joining the profession.

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Introducing complementary medicine into the medical curriculum

Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine ◽

10.1177/014107689709000107 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 90 (1) ◽

pp. 19-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Hagen Rampes ◽

Fiona Sharples ◽

Sarah Maragh ◽

Peter Fisher

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Complementary Medicine ◽

Medical Curriculum ◽

Great Increase ◽

General Medical Council ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Medical Council ◽

Medical Undergraduate

We surveyed the deans of British medical schools to determine the provision of complementary medicine in the undergraduate curriculum. We also sampled medical students at one British medical school to determine their knowledge of, and views on instruction in, complementary medicine. There is little education in complementary medicine at British medical schools, but it is an area of active curriculum development. Students' levels of knowledge vary widely between different therapies. Most medical students would like to learn about acupuncture, hypnosis, homoeopathy and osteopathy. We conclude that complementary medicine should be included in the medical undergraduate curriculum. This could be done without a great increase in teaching of facts, and could serve as a vehicle to introduce broader issues, as recommended by the General Medical Council.

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A survey of ENT undergraduate teaching in the UK

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ◽

10.1017/s0022215120000936 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 134 (6) ◽

pp. 553-557

Author(s):

A W Mayer ◽

K A Smith ◽

S Carrie ◽

Keyword(s):

Medical School ◽

Learning Outcomes ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

Medical Schools ◽

School Curriculum ◽

Careful Consideration ◽

Undergraduate Teaching ◽

Medical Graduates ◽

Wide Variability ◽

The Uk

AbstractBackgroundENT presentations are prevalent in clinical practice but feature little in undergraduate curricula. Consequently, most medical graduates are not confident managing common ENT conditions. In 2014, the first evidence-based ENT undergraduate curriculum was published to guide medical schools.ObjectiveTo assess the extent that current UK medical school learning outcomes correlate with the syllabus of the ENT undergraduate curriculum.MethodTwo students from each participating medical school independently reviewed all ENT-related curriculum documents to determine whether learning outcomes from the suggested curriculum were met.ResultsSixteen of 34 curricula were reviewed. Only a minority of medical schools delivered teaching on laryngectomy or tracheostomy, nasal packing or cautery, and ENT medications or surgical procedures.ConclusionThere is wide variability in ENT undergraduate education in UK medical schools. Careful consideration of which topics are prioritised, and the teaching modalities utilised, is essential. In addition, ENT learning opportunities for undergraduates outside of the medical school curriculum should be augmented.

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Medical School Education on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57060542 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (6) ◽

pp. 542

Author(s):

Nina Muirhead ◽

John Muirhead ◽

Grace Lavery ◽

Ben Marsh

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Medical School ◽

Medical Schools ◽

School Education ◽

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽

Medical Council ◽

Medical Specialties ◽

Medical School Education ◽

Teaching Aids ◽

School Teaching

Background and objectives: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex multi-system disease with a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and their families, yet the majority of ME/CFS patients go unrecognised or undiagnosed. For two decades, the medical education establishment in the UK has been challenged to remedy these failings, but little has changed. Meanwhile, there has been an exponential increase in biomedical research and an international paradigm shift in the literature, which defines ME/CFS as a multisystem disease, replacing the psychogenic narrative. This study was designed to explore the current UK medical school education on ME/CFS and to identify challenges and opportunities relating to future ME/CFS medical education. Materials and methods: A questionnaire, developed under the guidance of the Medical Schools Council, was sent to all 34 UK medical schools to collect data for the academic year 2018–2019. Results: Responses were provided by 22 out of a total of 34 medical schools (65%); of these 13/22 (59%) taught ME/CFS, and teaching was led by lecturers from ten medical specialties. Teaching delivery was usually by lecture; discussion, case studies and e-learning were also used. Questions on ME/CFS were included by seven schools in their examinations and three schools reported likely clinical exposure to ME/CFS patients. Two-thirds of respondents were interested in receiving further teaching aids in ME/CFS. None of the schools shared details of their teaching syllabus, so it was not possible to ascertain what the students were being taught. Conclusions: This exploratory study reveals inadequacies in medical school teaching on ME/CFS. Many medical schools (64% of respondents) acknowledge the need to update ME/CFS education by expressing an appetite for further educational materials. The General Medical Council (GMC) and Medical Schools Council (MSC) are called upon to use their considerable influence to bring about the appropriate changes to medical school curricula so future doctors can recognise, diagnose and treat ME/CFS. The GMC is urged to consider creating a registered specialty encompassing ME/CFS, post-viral fatigue and long Covid.

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A Cross-sectional Study of Undergraduate Teaching of Trauma and Orthopaedics in the UK and the Relationship between Medical Schools and Interest in Trauma and Orthopaedics as a Career.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-602835/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Choi ◽

Setthasorn Ooi ◽

Eleanor Carpenter

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

General Medical Council ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

National Average ◽

Undergraduate Teaching ◽

Medical Council ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk

Abstract Aims: Adequate exposure and teaching of Trauma and Orthopaedics (T&O) to medical students is fundamental in order to obtain sufficient knowledge and sustain their interest in T&O as a career. The primary aim is to assess the exposure and delivery of T&O at all medical schools in the UK. The secondary aim is to determine whether there are any associations between attending a particular medical school and having a strong interest in pursuing a career in T&O. Methods: To explore the primary aim, all 33 UK medical schools were investigated in the study, by means of a questionnaire distributed to medical students. This did not include ‘new’ medical schools, defined as those established from 2014 onwards. To investigate the secondary aim of exploring associations between students’ and alumni’s medical schools and their interest in T&O as a career, British Orthopaedic Training Association (BOTA) members were reviewed, using the General Medical Council register to identify the universities from which members had graduated. The authors have made the assumption that membership of BOTA signified an interest in T&O as a career. Results: Results were obtained for all 33 medical schools. The mean total teaching time specifically for T&O throughout medical school was 18 days, ranging from 3 to 60 days in total. 118 BOTA members were reviewed. No member of BOTA in the study had attended medical school in Keele, Liverpool, Plymouth or Lancashire. These universities taught below the national average number of days in T&O. Conclusions: There is a large national variance in the number of compulsory teaching days provided for T&O. The authors advocate medical schools to aim for at least the national average in duration of T&O of 18 days.

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Familiarization: What's happening in Medical Schools in Wales?

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1093/ecam/nem185 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 265-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Natalie Taylor ◽

Anona Blackwell

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Medical Schools ◽

School Staff ◽

First Year ◽

Graduate Entry ◽

Academic Medical ◽

First Year Medical Students

Despite recommendations that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) familiarization should be offered to UK medical students, in Wales little such teaching was offered. We decided to assess medical students’ knowledge of CAMs, perceived training needs in CAMs, their view of its role in the National Health Service (NHS) and current teaching given. Analysis of data from a questionnaire given to medical students and direct questioning of senior academic medical school staff in Cardiff and Swansea Medical Schools was carried out. The participants comprised 78 first year medical students in the undergraduate entry program in Cardiff and 58 first year medical students from the graduate entry program in Swansea. Senior academic medical school staff at Cardiff and Swansea Medical Schools were asked about current CAM teaching. Results revealed that 32% of undergraduate entry students (UGES) had previous knowledge of CAMs compared with 51% of graduate entry students (GES). Of the UGES, 62% believed they should be taught about CAM's compared with 94% of GES. Of UGES 31% felt that CAMs have a role in the NHS compared with 50% of GES. None of the students had received teaching about CAMs and little formal CAM teaching is currently included in the curricula at each site. The majority of medical students in Wales would like to receive CAM teaching and significant numbers support a role for CAMs in the NHS. Little formal teaching is currently provided.

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A Cross-Sectional Study of Undergraduate Teaching of Trauma and Orthopaedics in the UK and the Relationship Between Medical Schools and Interest in Trauma and Orthopaedics as a Career

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development ◽

10.1177/23821205211072764 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 238212052110727

Author(s):

Sarah Choi ◽

Setthasorn Ooi ◽

Eleanor Carpenter

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical School ◽

General Medical Council ◽

Medical Schools ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

National Average ◽

Undergraduate Teaching ◽

Medical Council ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk

INTRODUCTION Adequate exposure and teaching of Trauma and Orthopaedics (T&O) to medical students is fundamental in order to obtain sufficient knowledge and sustain their interest in T&O as a career. The primary aim is to assess the exposure and delivery of T&O at all medical schools in the UK. The secondary aim is to determine whether there are any associations between attending a particular medical school and having a strong interest in pursuing a career in T&O. METHODS To explore the primary aim, all 33 UK medical schools were investigated in the study, by means of a questionnaire distributed to medical students. This did not include ‘new’ medical schools, defined as those established from 2014 onwards. To investigate the secondary aim of exploring associations between students’ and alumni's medical schools and their interest in T&O as a career, British Orthopaedic Training Association (BOTA) members were reviewed, using the General Medical Council register to identify the universities from which members had graduated. The authors have made the assumption that membership of BOTA signified an interest in T&O as a career. RESULTS Results were obtained for all 33 medical schools. The mean total teaching time specifically for T&O throughout medical school was 18 days, ranging from 3 to 60 days in total. 118 BOTA members were reviewed. No member of BOTA in the study had attended medical school in Keele, Liverpool, Plymouth or Lancashire. These universities taught below the national average number of days in T&O. DISUCSSION There is a large national variance in the number of compulsory teaching days provided for T&O. The authors advocate medical schools to aim for at least the national average in duration of T&O of 18 days.

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Concerns that Linger: Medical School Perspectives on the UKMLA and Shared Assessment

Journal of Education and Development ◽

10.20849/jed.v2i1.368 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 73

Author(s):

Margaret MacDougall

Keyword(s):

Medical School ◽

Online Survey ◽

Medical Schools ◽

System Response ◽

Free Text ◽

Medical Council ◽

Curriculum Innovation ◽

Consultation Process ◽

Response Data ◽

Free Text Response

The General Medical Council have closed their formal consultation process soliciting recommendations on how to develop a UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA). The output of this consultation goes a considerable way to identifying concerns about implementation of such an assessment. However, there is scope for more attention to detail in specifying concerns held by individual UK medical schools, even where these schools have indicated acceptance or approval of the UKMLA. There is therefore a need for increased transparency in identifying stakeholder viewpoints to ensure these lingering concerns can be addressed during the current development phase. The current study contributes to addressing this need through providing an overview of UK medical school views on introducing a UKMLA and relatedly, on shared assessment as a source of uniformity in competency across medical schools. Using a secure online survey system, response data were collected during 13-30 January, 2014 from recommended assessment specialists, representing their respective medical schools. Likert scale and free text response data were collected. Based on Likert sale data, more medical schools appeared accepting of these ideas than either those who expressed disapproval or those who expressed uncertainty. Nevertheless, concerns still lingered. Areas of concern included stifling of curriculum innovation, supporting students who fail the UKMLA and quality and administration of assessment. Eleven recommendations have emerged for addressing respondent concerns. In presenting these recommendations arising specifically from participant feedback, I invite responses from all categories of stakeholder in order to promote open discussion beyond the formal consultation period.

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