title: Longitudinal evaluation, acceptability and long-term retention of knowledge on a horizontally integrated organic and functional systems course.
abstract: Undergraduate medical education is moving from traditional disciplinary basic science courses into more integrated curricula. Integration models based on organ systems originated in the 1950s, but few longitudinal studies have evaluated their effectiveness. This article outlines the development and implementation of the Organic and Functional Systems (OFS) courses at the University of Minho in Portugal, using evidence collected over 10 years. It describes the organization of content, student academic performance and acceptability of the courses, the evaluation of preparedness for future courses and the retention of knowledge on basic sciences. Students consistently rated the OFS courses highly. Physician tutors in subsequent clinical attachments considered that students were appropriately prepared. Performance in the International Foundations of Medicine examination of a self-selected sample of students revealed similar performances in basic science items after the last OFS course and 4 years later, at the moment of graduation. In conclusion, the organizational and pedagogical approaches of the OFS courses achieve high acceptability by students and result in positive outcomes in terms of preparedness for subsequent training and long-term retention of basic science knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. japalha@ecsaude.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Joana Almeida
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Palha
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Correia-Pinto
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Amélia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, and Clinical Academic Center-Braga (2CA), University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sousa