[Social medicine in medical faculties: realisation of the topic in the specialty "social medicine, occupational health"].
OBJECTIVE
The 9 (th) Revision of German Medical Licensing Regulations for Physicians has come into effect on October 1 (st) 2003. Social medicine was separated into the fields ""occupational health, social medicine" and the various cross-sectional modules: epidemiology, biometry, medical computer science; health economics, health-care system, public health; prevention, health promotion; rehabilitation, physical medicine, naturopathic treatment. This paper studies the realisation of teaching in the field social medicine at German medical faculties.


METHODS
The survey was conducted in collaboration with the German Association for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP). A survey was conducted at 38 institutes of 36 German medical faculties. The written questionnaire contained mostly selection items in which chances and barriers of the field were queried with supply items. Information about time scale, general conditions and resources was aked for. On the basis of the guidelines of the DGSMP, the topics to be taught were evaluated concerning their relevance and integration into education.


RESULTS
The response rate was 68% (n=26). Social insurance, basic principles, responsibility in the Social Security Code and the different providers were judged as the most important topics. There was a strong demand for lecturing material. 82% (n=18) of the faculties wished to have specific material, for example e-learning, examples, lesson plans, curricula and also textbooks. 91% (n=19) of the faculties requested an exchange of information between the faculties concerning educational contents, motivation of students and e-learning.


CONCLUSIONS
The realisation of teaching is different between the faculties concerning the number of hours, teaching methods and number of students per year. The motivation of the students is one of the problems, but also the lack of acceptance within the clinic. Specific resources and exchange between the faculties are necessary concerning e-learning, which is offered at only few faculties so far, but interest for a more intensive usage exists. Potentials of social medicine are the promotion of awareness among the students and the "identification of basics for medical acts in the social security system". Social medicine offers the possibility to connect the theoretical institutes with the clinic.
Behmann
M
M
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Institut für Epidemiologie, Sozialmedizin und Gesundheitssystemforschung und Stiftungslehrstuhl Prävention und Rehabilitation in der System- und Versorgungsforschung, Hannover. Behmann.Mareike@mhhannover.de
Bisson
S
S
Walter
U
U
D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012936:Social Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*