What can we learn from each other about undergraduate medical education in general practice/family medicine?

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Irena Zakarija-Grković
• Author: Davorka Vrdoljak
• Author: Venija Cerovečki
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Public Health and Health Care

Abstract (english)

INTRODUCTION: There is a dearth of published literature on the organisation of family medicine/general practice
undergraduate teaching in the former Yugoslavia. -----
METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was sent to the addresses of 19 medical schools in the region.
Questions covered the structure of Departments of Family Medicine (DFM), organisation of teaching, assessment
of students and their involvement in departmental activities. -----
RESULTS: Thirteen medical schools responded, of which twelve have a formal DFM. Few DFM have full-time staff,
with most relying upon external collaborators. Nine of 13 medical schools have family doctors teaching other
subjects, covering an average of 2.4 years of the medical curriculum (range: 1-5). The total number of hours
dedicated to teaching ranged from 30 - 420 (Md 180). Practice-based teaching prevails, which is conducted
both in city and rural practices in over half of the respondent schools. Written exams are conducted at all but
two medical schools, with the written grade contributing between 30 and 75 percent (Md=40%) of the total
score. Nine medical schools have a formal method of practical skills assessment, five of which use Objective
Structured Clinical Examinations. Student participation is actively sought at all but three medical schools,
mainly through research. -----
CONCLUSION: Most medical schools of the former Yugoslavia recognise the importance of family medicine in
undergraduate education, although considerable variations exist in the organisation of teaching. Where DFM do
not exist, we hope our study will provide evidence to support their establishment and the employment of more
GPs by medical schools.

• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Zdravstveno Varstvo
• Numbering: vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 148-154
• p-ISSN: 1854-2476
• DOI: https://doi.org/doi:10.2478/sjph-2018-0019
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:651631
• Publication: 2018-06-21
• Document URL: http://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2018-0019
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-28 10:05:01