title: Internal Medicine Clerkship Directors' opinion regarding clinical input in the preclinical years: the 2002 CDIM basic science survey results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Input from both basic science and clinical faculty members is needed to promote further integration of medical curricula.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess current views of clerkship directors about the role and relationship of the basic sciences to clinical years in medical education.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of the 2002 Annual CDIM Survey, questions regarding basic science curriculum were included; 89 of 123 CDIM members responded (72%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, respondents felt participation from both basic science and clinical faculty members is necessary to define basic science course content. Nearly 89% of clerkship directors indicated curricular review should be collaborative and interdepartmental; 93% felt that this review effort should occur frequently. Supporting the growing philosophy that the structure of the preclinical years should involve increased clinically relevant integration, 58% favored an integrated organ system approach rather than the traditional departmental structure (18%). In addition, in order of ranking, respondents felt that small group (M = 2.0 +/- 0.9) and problem-based learning (M = 2.1 +/- 1.1) are better approaches than the standard lecture format (M = 2.8 +/- 1.2). Although clerkship directors recognized the need for increased clinical input in the preclinical years, many reported a lack of knowledge regarding the amount of clinical exposure students received in the basic science years (33%), frequency of peer review of the basic science courses (20%), and who performed peer review of the basic science courses at their institution (36%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical clerkship directors believe that basic science education should be developed collaboratively, organized by organ system, and presented in small groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, 33612, USA. kobrien@hsc.usf.edu
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wallach
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elnicki
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged