Into the future: patient-centredness endures in longitudinal integrated clerkship graduates.
OBJECTIVE
This study was intended to determine if previously identified educational benefits of the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Cambridge Integrated Clerkship (CIC) endure over time.


METHODS
The authors' earlier work compared the 27 graduates in the first three cohorts of students undertaking the CIC with a comparison group of 45 traditionally trained HMS students; CIC graduates emerged from their clerkship year with a higher degree of patient-centredness and felt more prepared to deal with numerous domains of patient care. Between April and July 2011, at 4-6 years post-clerkship, the authors asked these original study cohorts to complete an electronic survey which included measures used in the original study. The authors also reviewed data from the National Residency Match Program to compare career paths in the two groups.


RESULTS
The response rate was 62% (42/68). The immediate post-clerkship finding that CIC students held more patient-centred attitudes was sustained over time (p < 0.035). Reflecting retrospectively on their clerkship experiences, CIC graduates continued to report that their clerkship year had better prepared them in a wide variety of domains. Graduates of the CIC attained awards and published papers at the same rates as peers, and were more likely to engage in health advocacy work. Both groups chose a wide range of residency programmes. Among those expressing a preference, no CIC graduates said they would choose a traditional clerkship, but 6 (27%) of the traditionally trained graduates said they would choose a longitudinal integrated clerkship.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper indicates that benefits of longitudinal integrated clerkship training are sustained over time across multiple domains.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Elizabeth
E
Gaufberg
David
D
Hirsh
Edward
E
Krupat
Barbara
B
Ogur
Stephen
S
Pelletier
Deborah
D
Reiff
David
D
Bor
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States