THE UMDS MSC IN GENERAL-PRACTICE - ATTAINMENT OF INTENDED OUTCOMES

Background. The United Medical and Dental School's (UMDS's) MSc in gen eral practice is one of the longest running courses of its kind. Alth ough descriptive accounts of such courses have been published, little is known about their outcomes. Aim. To measure the extent to which gra duates feel they have personally achieved 16 intended outcomes derived from the course objectives, and to record current academic activities , particularly teaching and research. Method A postal questionnaire to graduates of the UMDS MSc in General Practice. Results. The response rate was 93%. Of the 71 responders, 23 have gone on to register for or complete other degrees or diplomas. Over two-thirds of responders had an academic commitment following the MSc. Two-thirds were currently e ngaged in research and over half reported having had work accepted for publication. The majority of graduates confirmed the attainment of al l 16 outcomes, although outcomes related to personal achievements were endorsed more strongly than those related to service delivery. Conclu sion. UMDS graduates are making a significant contribution to their di scipline and are unanimous in describing the course as an important ev ent in their personal development. As a result of this study, the cour se organizers are seeking to increase the links between academic study and everyday practice.