ACADEMIC DEANS VIEWS ON CURRICULUM CONTENT IN MEDICAL-SCHOOLS

Purpose. To determine which of 33 topics academic deans identify as wo rthy of greater emphasis in medical curricula. Also, to assess the bar riers to needed curricular changes. Method. In March 1996 a questionna ire was developed and mailed to the academic deans of all U.S. schools affiliated with the Association of American Medical Colleges (n = 126 ) and all schools associated with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathy (n = 17), There were 46 questions in a five-point Liker t-type format (1 = not at all, 5 = to a great extent) and one open-end ed question. The deans were queried as to what extent each of 33 topic s (1) was included in medical students' required learning experiences (current emphasis) and (2) should be included in medical students' req uired learning experiences (ideal emphasis). The deans were also asked to what extent they believed 12 different factors would be barriers t o needed curriculum changes in their programs. Primary data analysis f ocused on simple comparisons of response means and frequencies. Result s. Two separate mailings resulted in the return of 100 questionnaires (70%): 85 from the allopathic schools (67%) and 15 from the osteopathi c schools (88%). ''Effective patient-provider relationships/communicat ion,'' ''outpatient/ambulatory care,'' and ''health promotion/disease prevention'' had the three highest mean ratings for ideal emphasis by the allopathic school deans. ''Primary care,'' ''professional values,' ' and ''use of electronic information systems'' also had high mean ran kings for ideal emphasis. ''Primary care,'' ''outpatient/ambulatory ca re,'' and ''health promotion/disease prevention'' had the three highes t mean ratings for ideal emphasis by the osteopathic school deans.Conc lusion. Changes in health care delivery and an increasing generalist o rientation are influencing academic deans' perspectives on needed curr iculum changes, and there appears to be considerable support for medic al school curricula that will foster a broader, more humanistic role f or physicians.