The first batch of graduates of a new medical curriculum in Asia: how their teachers see them.
OBJECTIVE
To examine teachers' views of the first batch of graduates of a revised medical curriculum in Asia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was carried out to obtain the views of all the clinical teachers involved in teaching final year students of the old curriculum in 2000-01 and the new curriculum in 2001-02 at the University of Hong Kong, which commenced curricular reform in 1997.


RESULTS
Nearly 62% of respondents felt that better graduates were being produced with the new curriculum. The majority of them rated the new curriculum students better in nearly all the major goals of the new curriculum, such as self-directed learning initiative, problem solving skills, interpersonal skills and clinical performance in patient care. However, the core knowledge of the new curriculum students was of concern to some teachers.


CONCLUSIONS
This study focused on the first complete cycle of a revised medical curriculum in Asia. Teachers' views of the new curriculum students were highly positive and they felt that better graduates were being produced.
Lam
T P
TP
Family Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, China. tplam@hku.hk
Khoo
U S
US
Chan
Y S
YS
Cheng
Y H
YH
Lam
K F
KF
D001290:Attitude; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires