223377 Assessing and Enhancing Sexual and Reproductive Health in Medical School Curriculum

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM

Penelope Vick, MPH , Education, Research, and Training, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, New York, NY
Rebecca Bak , School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Melania Poonacha, MPH , College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Evelyn Denebeim, BS , School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Jamie McGuire , School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Angeline Ti, MPH , School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
To comprehensively assess and treat patients, physicians need to be knowledgeable in reproductive health care provision. Yet, medical schools often provide minimal instruction in subjects like contraception, abortion and the acquisition of sexual histories. As participants in Project-in-a-Box: “Achieving Curriculum Reform at Your Medical School,” students from four medical schools assessed their institutions' sexual and reproductive Health (SRH) curriculum in order to make recommendations for improved training in these areas. The project was coordinated by American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH), and Medical Students for Choice (MSFC). In addition to gathering data regarding existing curricular content, the project helped students increase their knowledge of medical education systems; develop data collection and analysis skills; and learn to mobilize fellow students Recruitment: The convening organizations invited AMSA and MSFC members to apply to participate. Students from five schools were initially chosen but one school dropped out due to time constraints. Methods: Five activities were implemented to identify gaps in SRH education: 1)Assess curriculum by evaluating syllabi 2)Administer questionnaires and in-depth interviews with medical students, faculty, and alumni 3)Synthesize and analyze data 4)Present data and develop action plan at participating schools 5)Form a student task force to synthesize results and generate action plans

Presenters will discuss current gaps in SRH education in medical schools and introduce data results from the four schools. Participants and presenters will dialogue about the need, benefit, and challenges of enhancing SRH education in medical education.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Identify gaps in sexual and reproductive health curriculum in four medical schools Formulate recommendations for the expansion of sexual and reproductive health education in participating medical schools

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I oversee medical education and research initiatives at Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.