Medical student electives in general surgical subspecialties

• Published in: The American journal of surgery 2004-09, Vol.188 (3), p.246-249
• Main Authors: Gabram, Sheryl G.A., Hoenig, Jeremy, Creech, Steven, Minks, Kenneth D., Gamelli, Richard L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education six core competencies; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Burn; Burns; Chronic illnesses; Clinical Clerkship - organization & administration; Clinical Clerkship - standards; Competency-Based Education - standards; Core competencies; Core curriculum; Data Collection; Decision making; Educational Measurement - methods; Female; General aspects; Humans; Learning; Male; Medical residencies; Medical schools; Medical sciences; Medical student electives; Medical students; Peripheral Vascular Diseases; Peripheral vascular surgery; Physicians; Preventive medicine; Specialties, Surgical - education; Surgery; Trauma; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Wounds and Injuries
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2004.03.010

The purpose of the study was to evaluate how well the burn, trauma, and peripheral vascular third-year medical school electives meet the objectives of the six ACGME core competencies. Medical school graduates from 1999 to 2002 completed a survey that consisted of 13 demographic/miscellaneous questions, and 28 core competency questions. In all, 168 of 500 students responded for a 34% response rate. All three general surgical electives ranked above average in meeting objectives in the areas of: basic science, performing complete histories and physicals, writing logical and legible notes, creating complete assessments and plan, making decisions with evidence based medicine, performing basic procedures, interpreting test results, and maintaining professional attitudes. The burn elective ranked significantly higher in 16 of 28 objectives ( P