Guidelines for preclerkship bioterrorism curricula.
OBJECTIVE
To develop medical school curriculum guidelines related to bioterrorism to ensure that future medical graduates are armed with the critical knowledge, skills, and attitudes to face this emerging threat.


METHODS
An Internet-based Delphi survey was performed in 2002 under the auspices of the Association of Medical School Microbiology and Immunology Chairs involving 64 medical educators in microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases representing 54 U.S. medical schools. A 12-member bioterrorism expert reference panel participated in the final phase of the survey.


RESULTS
Study participants identified the top educational objectives for the following bioterrorism-related curriculum categories: general issues, biodefense, public health, infection control, infectious diseases, and toxins.


CONCLUSIONS
The study focused on preparedness training through the development of curricular guidelines in predominantly preclerkship medical education by identifying basic science and clinical laboratory aspects of putative biologic weapons organisms and toxins, clinical manifestations of bioterrorist attacks, treatment strategies, epidemiology, and prophylaxis.
Coico
Richard
R
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, City University of New York (CUNY) Medical School, Convent Avenue and 138th Street, New York,NY 10031, USA. coico@med.cuny.edu
Kachur
Elizabeth
E
Lima
Viera
V
Lipper
Stanley
S
D000486:Allergy and Immunology / Q000193:education; D023482:Bioterrorism; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D003479:Curriculum; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008829:Microbiology / Q000193:education*; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D014481:United States
D014118:Toxins, Biological