Effect of a major curriculum revision on students' perceptions of well-being.
The impact of a major curriculum revision on students' perceptions of the quality of the medical school learning environment, social supports, and their own mental and social well-being was determined. First-year students' perceptions one year before the curriculum revision were compared with first-year students' perceptions two years after the introduction of the new curriculum. In the new curriculum, students reported better overall quality of the learning environment (p = .019), a trend toward fewer stresses (p = .091), no difference in social supports (p = .721), better mental well-being (p = .043), and a trend toward better social well-being (p = .099). Students at a comparison school that did not undergo curriculum revision did not have more favorable perceptions during the study period. The findings suggest that well-considered and well-executed efforts to improve the quality of a medical school's learning environment can be successful and can raise students' perceptions of their overall well-being.
Strayhorn
G
G
Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
D001290:Attitude; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D009657:North Carolina; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires