Low attendance by basic science educators at medical education meetings.
BACKGROUND
Recently, concern has been expressed about the perception that few basic science educators (BSE) attend national and regional medical education meetings.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to analyze the issues affecting BSE decisions about whether to attend medical education meetings.


METHODS
An online survey was created and submitted to basic science course directors at the 128 U.S. allopathic medical schools.


RESULTS
Responses from 486 BSE suggest that because of the pressure to obtain research funding and achieve academic promotion, participation in medical education meetings is not a high priority with most BSE.


CONCLUSIONS
BSE attendance at medical education meetings can be improved, but it will require joint efforts by the BSE home institution and medical education organizations.
Weaver
Bill
B
Office of Curriculum Development and Management, University of Alabama School of Medicine-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0019, USA. Bweaver@uab.edu
Rosenfeld
Gary C
GC
Krane
N Kevin
NK
Menna
Jay
J
Walsh
Julie B
JB
Jackson
James R
JR
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D011361:Professional Competence; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States