[Needs assessment of a core curriculum for residency training].
OBJECTIVE
The core curriculum in graduate medical education (GME) is an educational program that covers the minimum body of knowledge and skills that is required of all residents, regardless of their specialty. This study examined the opinions of stakeholders in GME regarding the core curriculum.


METHODS
A questionnaire was administered at three tertiary hospitals that were affiliated with one university; 192 residents and 61 faculty members and attending physicians participated in the survey. The questionnaire comprised six items on physician competency and the needs for a core curriculum. Questions on subjects or topics and adequate training years for each topics were asked only to residents.


RESULTS
Most residents (78.6%) and faculty members (86.9%) chose "medical expertise" as the "doctor's role in the 21st century." In contrast, communicator, manager, and collaborator were recognized by less than 30% of all participants. Most residents (74.1%) responded that a core curriculum is "necessary but not feasible," whereas 68.3% of faculty members answered that it is "absolutely needed." Regarding subjects that should be included in the core curriculum, residents and faculty members had disparate preferences- residents preferred more "management of a private clinic" and "financial management," whereas faculty members desired "medical ethics" and "communication skills."


CONCLUSIONS
Residents and faculty members agree that residents should develop a wide range of competencies in their training. However, the perception of the feasibility and opinions on the contents of the core curriculum differed between groups. Further studies with larger samples should be conducted to define the roles and professional competencies of physicians and the needs for a core curriculum in GME.
Department of Medical Humanities, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyo-Jin
HJ
Kwon
Department of Medical Humanities, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Young-Mee
YM
Lee
Department of Medical Humanities, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyung-Joo
HJ
Chang
Department of Pathology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ae-Ri
AR
Kim
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010820:Physicians; D011361:Professional Competence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Curriculum; Education; Internship and residency; Medical graduate