Medical students' knowledge about alcohol and drug problems: results of the medical council of Canada examination.
OBJECTIVE
To determine knowledge of a national sample of medical students about substance withdrawal, screening and early intervention, medical and psychiatric complications of addiction, and treatment options.


METHODS
Based on learning objectives developed by medical faculty, twenty-two questions on addictions were included in the 1998 Canadian licensing examination.


RESULTS
The exam was written by 858 medical students. The average score on the addiction questions was 64%. Students showed strong knowledge of the clinical features of medical complications. Specific knowledge gaps were identified for withdrawal treatment protocols, low-risk drinking guidelines, taking an alcohol history, substance-induced psychiatric disorders, and Alcoholics Anonymous.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical students are knowledge-deficient around key learning objectives in addictions. The deficiencies were in areas of basic knowledge that could be learnt with little difficulty.
Kahan
Meldon
M
Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada. kahanm@stjoe.on.ca
Midmer
Deana
D
Wilson
Lynn
L
Borsoi
Diane
D
D000437:Alcoholism; D002170:Canada; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders