title: End-of-life care curricula in undergraduate medical education: a comparison of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools.
abstract: End-of-life care curricula in osteopathic medical schools were compared with allopathic school offerings. An 8-question online survey of undergraduate medical education administrators at all United States osteopathic medical schools (n = 26) and 26 allopathic schools geographically closest to them was conducted in 2007. Responses from 80% (n = 21) of osteopathic schools and 77% (n = 20) of allopathic schools revealed that both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools offered end-of-life care education. Of note is that 71% of the osteopathic medical school respondents had a course that concentrates on end-of-life care compared with 37% of allopathic school respondents (P = .03). This disparity in percentages may be due to a number of reasons, 2 of which may include course identification methods and the primary care orientation and philosophy inherent in osteopathic medical schools.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine 04005, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.forename: Marilyn R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gugliucci
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D010021:Osteopathic Medicine / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States