[Study of medicine: "full" load as a parameter for the organization of a successful curriculum].
OBJECTIVE
The licensing regulations for doctors (AAppO) allow medical faculties a wide range of possibilities in their implementation. Are there parameters which are easy to survey and which at the same time contribute to the speedy detection of possible undesirable developments?


METHODS
The results of a retrospective student evaluation of the preclinical period clearly revealed that there are extreme fluctuations in the "perceived" stress of students in Semester one to four. In succession, classes were restructured so that stress was as equally balanced as possible throughout the four semesters.


RESULTS
Over a period of half a decade, the "perceived" stress of students in the four semesters of the preclinical period was stabilised at an optimum level. At the same time, the students' satisfaction with organisation of curriculum increased and their exam results improved significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The parameter "perceived" stress has been conducive to developing the curriculum to such an extent that teaching in Lübeck has improved considerably. Simultaneously, new space for development has been created for both students and lecturers, which makes it possible to shape the academic aspect of medical studies in a more challenging manner.
Westermann
J
J
Brauner
A
A
D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology