title: The relevance of basic sciences in undergraduate medical education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evolving and changing undergraduate medical curricula raise concerns that there will no longer be a place for basic sciences. National and international trends show that 5-year programmes with a pre-requisite for school chemistry are growing more prevalent. National reports in Ireland show a decline in the availability of school chemistry and physics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This observational cohort study considers if the basic sciences of physics, chemistry and biology should be a prerequisite to entering medical school, be part of the core medical curriculum or if they have a place in the practice of medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparisons of means, correlation and linear regression analysis assessed the degree of association between predictors (school and university basic sciences) and outcomes (year and degree GPA) for entrants to a 6-year Irish medical programme between 2006 and 2009 (n = 352).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no statistically significant difference in medical programme performance between students with/without prior basic science knowledge. The Irish school exit exam and its components were mainly weak predictors of performance (-0.043 ≥ r ≤ 0.396). Success in year one of medicine, which includes a basic science curriculum, was indicative of later success (0.194 ≥ r (2) ≤ 0.534).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  University basic sciences were found to be more predictive than school sciences in undergraduate medical performance in our institution. The increasing emphasis of basic sciences in medical practice and the declining availability of school sciences should mandate medical schools in Ireland to consider how removing basic sciences from the curriculum might impact on future applicants.
authors: UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. carol.lynch@ucd.ie.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Lynch
authors: UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Grant
authors: UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: McLoughlin
authors: UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Last
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001695:Biology / Q000193:education*; D002621:Chemistry / Q000193:education*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D010825:Physics / Q000193:education*; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012577:Schools, Medical; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Admission; Assessment; Education; Medical; Predictive; Science; Student; Undergraduate