The importance of "high valence" events in a successful program for teaching geriatrics to medical students.
Virginia Commonwealth University developed an enhanced medical student geriatric curriculum that includes required home visits and nursing home visits for second year students (180 per year), an annual Forum on Aging for all first and second year students, and small group exercises. We added 30 hours of basic science material to pre-clinical courses and increased clinical exposure to geriatricians in third and fourth years. Student satisfaction with individual experiences was high. Persistent effects of "high valence" required activities, where emotion played a role, was shown by post-pre survey techniques and focus groups. Fourth year AAMC exit questionnaire items in areas addressed by this curriculum improved markedly between 2002 and 2006, while an internal control changed much less.
Boling
Peter A
PA
Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980102, 1200 E Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. pboling@vcu.edu
Willett
Rita M
RM
Gentili
Angela
A
Abbey
Linda J
LJ
Lawson
Sonya R
SR
Schlesinger
Jeanne B
JB
Meyers
Elizabeth M
EM
D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation