Determining geriatric content in a medical school curriculum

Geriatric content in a medical school curriculum was assayed by surveying faculty course directors and students about course content, by conducting an independent review of course content, and by analyzing the content of course examinations. The students' assessments of geriatric content were found to be not valid. Considerable variability was found in the amount of geriatric content within courses, and review of course examinations was found to be the most valid review method. Pharmacology and second-year psychiatry courses were shown to have the most coverage of geriatrics, while microbiology, biochemistry, and neuroanatomy courses were shown to have the least coverage of geriatric items. The geriatric items in the course examinations correlated strongly (r = .71) with the National Board of Medical Examiners Part I and Part II examinations; because of this correlation, the investigators felt the study findings may be generalizable outside the one medical school. It would appear that geriatric content within the medical school curriculum is low; however, the results of the review methods indicate that disagreement exists over the degree of deficiency. The authors conclude that examination review offers an expeditious method to determine the relative emphasis placed upon geriatrics material within specific courses.