ABSTRACT
A geriatrics curriculum delivered to medical students was evaluated in this study. Students were instructed to review real patient cases, interview patients and caregivers, identify community resources to address problems, and present a final care plan. Authors evaluated the course feedback and final care plans submitted by students for evidence of learning in geriatric competencies. Students rated the efficacy of the course on a 5-point Likert scale as 3.70 for developing clinical reasoning skills and 3.69 for interdisciplinary teamwork skills. Assessment of an older adult with medical illness was rated as 3.87 and ability to perform mobility and functional assessment as 3.85. Reviews of written final care plans provided evidence of student learning across several different geriatric competencies such as falls, medication management, cognitive and behavior disorders, and self-care capacity. Assessment of the curriculum demonstrated that medical students achieved in-depth learning across multiple geriatric competencies through contact with real cases.
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Acknowledgments
This curriculum is made possible with help from geriatrics faculty and geriatric fellows at the Division of Geriatrics, Duke University.
Funding
The authors would like to thank the following for funding this research: Donald W. Reynolds Program for Faculty Development to Advance Geriatrics Education, Health Resources and Services Administration Geriatric Training for Physicians, Dentists and Mental Health Professionals Grant (D01HP08791), Geriatric Academic teaching award, Duke School of Medicine.