Public health education in Ege University Medical Faculty: Developing a community-oriented model

Abstract

Background: Ege University Medical Faculty (EUMF) introduced a community-oriented curriculum in 2001.

Aims: To evaluate the new public health education program in EUMF curriculum.

Method: The study adopted triangulated methods. Quantitatively, a comparison of the students who were exposed to a community-oriented curriculum (Year 4 in 2007) was made with the students who were exposed to the traditional curriculum (Year 4 in 2005) in terms of their assessment of their achievement of our learning objectives. A total of 255 students in 2005 (80.7%) and 243 students in 2007 (81.5%) were surveyed using a questionnaire. Qualitatively, five focus group- and five individual interviews were performed with the 2007 cohort.

Results: Except the one related to teamwork (p > 0.05) all learning objectives yielded significantly higher scores in the 2007 cohort than in the 2005 cohort (p < 0.05). The qualitative analysis supported the achievement of objectives in the 2007 cohort. The students appreciated the relevance of public health education with clinical subjects and interactive methods, but criticized didactic lectures and written assignments.

Conclusions: A community-oriented approach is more effective in achieving a holistic approach to health problems. Improving community-based activities and assessment methods would be more successful in integrating population health into medical training.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zeliha A. Öcek

ZELIHA ÖCEK, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health and a Member of Council of Block 3, Ege University Medical Faculty.

Meltem ÇiÇeklioğlu

MELTEM CICEKLIOGLU, MD, M.Ed is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and a Member of Council of Block 4, Ege University Medical Faculty. She has a master's degree in educational program and teaching.

Şafak Taner Gürsoy

SAFAK TANER GURSOY, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health, and a Member of Council of Block 1, Ege University Medical Faculty.

Feride Aksu

FERIDE AKSU, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Public Health, a Member of Education Council, the Head of Department of Public Health and Former Head of Department of Medical Education.

Meral Türk Soyer

MERAL TURK SOYER, MD, is an Assistant Professor and a Member of Council of Block 2, Ege University Medical Faculty.

Hür Hassoy

HUR HASSOY, MD, is a Specialist in the Department of Public Health, Ege University Medical Faculty.

Işıl Ergin

IŞIL ERGIN, MD, is a Specialist in the Department of Public Health, Ege University Medical Faculty.

Abdullah Sayıner

ABDULLAH SAYINER, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Chest Diseases and Former Vice Dean, Ege University Medical Faculty.

Gülşen Kandiloğlu

GÜLŞEN KANDILOĞLU, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Pathology, Head of Department of Pathology, Former Head of Education Council and Former Head of Department of Medical Education, Ege University.