Abstract
Introduction
The ageing population means all doctors, regardless of specialty, will need knowledge, skills, and attitudes to care for older people with complex health conditions. An essential component of preparing the medical workforce to best care for older people is by including teaching on ageing and geriatric medicine in undergraduate medical curricula. Here we present results of the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) national curriculum survey 2021–22, highlighting progress made in undergraduate teaching in geriatric medicine.
Methods
All 35 UK GMC-registered medical schools at the time of data collection were invited to participate in an online survey on content, methodology, timing, and duration of teaching in ageing and geriatric medicine. The survey was structured around the 2013 BGS recommended undergraduate curriculum, for consistency with previous surveys.
Results
30/35 of UK medical schools responded (83% response rate). Most teaching occurred in the fourth year of study (21/30, 70%). The majority (15/30, 50%) reported a discrete module for geriatric medicine lasting 4–8 weeks, an increase on previous surveys. However, several programmes have reduced the amount of in-person teaching since the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, three schools reported geriatric medicine exposure lasting >12 weeks. Of these, two were integrated clerkships and one a dedicated geriatric medicine module. There is increasing focus on multidisciplinary education, with emphasis on combining virtual or simulated teaching with other healthcare professions (n = 7). Every school (n = 30) taught at least one topic as small-group or case-based learning.
Conclusion
There is a trend towards increasing exposure to geriatric medicine compared to previous surveys in 2008 and 2013. However, several of the programmes reporting greater exposure incorporate geriatric medicine in an integrated clerkship rather than as a dedicated module. Programmes demonstrated a move from didactic teaching towards small-group and case-based learning, employing a wider variety of assessment methods than previous.
The ageing population means all doctors, regardless of specialty, will need knowledge, skills, and attitudes to care for older people with complex health conditions. An essential component of preparing the medical workforce to best care for older people is by including teaching on ageing and geriatric medicine in undergraduate medical curricula. Here we present results of the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) national curriculum survey 2021–22, highlighting progress made in undergraduate teaching in geriatric medicine.
Methods
All 35 UK GMC-registered medical schools at the time of data collection were invited to participate in an online survey on content, methodology, timing, and duration of teaching in ageing and geriatric medicine. The survey was structured around the 2013 BGS recommended undergraduate curriculum, for consistency with previous surveys.
Results
30/35 of UK medical schools responded (83% response rate). Most teaching occurred in the fourth year of study (21/30, 70%). The majority (15/30, 50%) reported a discrete module for geriatric medicine lasting 4–8 weeks, an increase on previous surveys. However, several programmes have reduced the amount of in-person teaching since the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, three schools reported geriatric medicine exposure lasting >12 weeks. Of these, two were integrated clerkships and one a dedicated geriatric medicine module. There is increasing focus on multidisciplinary education, with emphasis on combining virtual or simulated teaching with other healthcare professions (n = 7). Every school (n = 30) taught at least one topic as small-group or case-based learning.
Conclusion
There is a trend towards increasing exposure to geriatric medicine compared to previous surveys in 2008 and 2013. However, several of the programmes reporting greater exposure incorporate geriatric medicine in an integrated clerkship rather than as a dedicated module. Programmes demonstrated a move from didactic teaching towards small-group and case-based learning, employing a wider variety of assessment methods than previous.
| Original language | English |
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| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Aug 2024 |
| Event | British Geriatrics Society Spring Meeting 2024 - Birmingham, United Kingdom Duration: 22 May 2024 → 24 May 2024 https://www.bgs.org.uk/spring24 |
Conference
| Conference | British Geriatrics Society Spring Meeting 2024 |
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| Abbreviated title | BGS Spring 2024 |
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Birmingham |
| Period | 22/05/24 → 24/05/24 |
| Internet address |
Research Groups and Themes
- Ageing and Movement Research Group
- Bristol Medical Education Research Group
Keywords
- Geriatric medicine
- Medical education
- Undergraduate
- Ageing
- Curriculum