Retention of basic science knowledge: a comparison between body system-based and clinical presentation curricula.
BACKGROUND
When the University of Calgary implemented the clinical presentation (CP) curriculum in 1994, it was prospectively decided to administer the National Board of Medical Examiner's Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE) as a measure of students' basic science knowledge retention.


OBJECTIVE
The exam performance from 2 classes (1995, 1996) of the previous system-based (SB) curriculum was compared to exam performance of 2 classes (2000, 2002) of the CP curriculum.


METHODS
Data analyses employed 2 statistical models (covariate multiple linear regression and hierarchical mixed effects), and effect sizes were computed.


RESULTS
Differences between CBSE mean scores produced by students from the SB and CP curricula showed a curricular effect on students' retention of basic science knowledge. However, preexisting differences between groups were found to be in the small-to-medium range.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence supporting the potential of schemes within a CP curriculum and their relation to basic science knowledge retention was observed. Effect size for the CP curriculum on students' retention of basic science knowledge was substantial; however, a notable part of that difference can be accounted for by extraneous and confounding factors. Further research utilizing more rigorous designs to investigate the relation between schemes and basic science retention is warranted.
Woloschuk
Wayne
W
Undergraduate Medical Education, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. woloschu@ucalgary.ca
Mandin
Henry
H
Harasym
Peter
P
Lorscheider
Fritz
F
Brant
Rollin
R
D000416:Alberta; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology