Survey of attitudes towards curriculum reforms among medical teachers in different socio-economic and cultural environments.
BACKGROUND
Curriculum reforms in medical schools require cultural and conceptual changes from the faculty.


OBJECTIVE
We assessed attitudes towards curriculum reforms in different academic, economic, and social environments among 776 teachers from 2 Western European medical schools (Belgium and Denmark) and 7 medical schools in 3 countries in post-communist transition (Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina). The survey included a 5-point Likert-type scale on attitudes towards reforms in general and towards reforms of medical curriculum (10 items each).


RESULTS
Teaching staff from medical schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina had a more positive attitude towards reforms of medical curriculum (mean score 36.8 out of maximum 50 [95% CI 36.1 to 37.3]) than those from medical schools in Croatia or Slovenia (30.7 [29.8 to 31.6]) or Western Europe (27.7 [27.1 to 28.3]) (P < 0.001, ANOVA). Significant predictors of positive attitudes towards medical curriculum reform in post-communist transition countries, but not in Western European schools, was younger age, as well as female gender in Bosnia and Herzegovina.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors influencing faculty attitudes may not be easy to identify and may be specific for different settings. Their identification and management is necessary for producing sustainable curriculum reform.
Simunovic
Vladimir J
VJ
Mostar University School of Medicine, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Hren
Darko
D
Ivanis
Ana
A
Dørup
Jens
J
Krivokuca
Zdenka
Z
Ristic
Sinisa
S
Verhaaren
Henri
H
Sonntag
Hans-Günther
HG
Ribaric
Samo
S
Tomic
Snjezana
S
Vojnikovic
Benjamin
B
Seleskovic
Hajrija
H
Dahl
Mads
M
Marusic
Ana
A
Marusic
Matko
M
D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005060:Europe; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors