Determination of required pharmacological knowledge for clinical practice in emergency medicine using a modified Delphi technique.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the content of the national postgraduate pharmacology curriculum for trainees in UK emergency medicine.


METHODS
Modified three-round iterated Delphi technique employing a participant panel of 160 randomly selected consultants in emergency medicine. Initial Delphi content was derived from objective analysis of pharmacy stock lists and patient record cards. The outcome measure was percentage agreement, among participants, to listed aspects of therapeutics as being core knowledge for autonomous clinical practice in the emergency department. A national curriculum document was derived from the study data.


RESULTS
Response rates ranged from 66-76% after three Delphi rounds. From an initial overall questionnaire content of 526 discrete items, 59% was retained as core knowledge following iteration. The subsequent national curriculum document acts as a resource tool both for question setting in postgraduate examinations and for self-directed trainee learning before the sitting of these examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of a national consensus methodology allows determination of curricular content in pharmacology as part of the development of a robust College educational portfolio.
Kilroy
D A
DA
College of Emergency Medicine, London, UK. darren.kilroy@stockport-tr.nwest.nhs.uk
Mooney
J S
JS
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
Scott Med J. 2006 Nov;51(4):27-32
17137145
N Z Med J. 2006;119(1247):U2364
17195857
Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Jun;55(6):496-503
12814441
J Adv Nurs. 1994 Jan;19(1):180-6
8138622
Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2006 Dec;62(6):673-81
17054667
Surgeon. 2005 Apr;3(2):84-7
15861942
Med Teach. 2006 May;28(3):234-8
16753721
Emerg Med J. 2006 Sep;23(9):693-6
16921081
Med Educ. 2005 Mar;39(3):326-32
15733169