The availability of diseases for medical students in a university hospital

The Dutch national objectives for the education of medical doctors (in term s of diseases), expressed in the form of a student compiled logbook, must b e attained at the time of graduation. The diseases that are required are di vided into the categories 'essential' and 'compulsory choice: The aim of th is study is to investigate whether the inpatient department of internal ned icine offers medical students sufficient diseases during two four-week peri ods in the clerkship, such that the required diseases related to Internal M edicine as described in our logbook can be met. Ar five subdivisions, medic al doctors recorded the diseases available for students. Of the 37 'essenti al' diseases students may be expected to encounter during one four-week sta y in the department: 57% in internal medicine-I; 55% in internal medicine-i i; 47% in nephrology; 41% in respiratory medicine; 13% in oncology. Of the 65 'compulsory choice' diseases the number of diseases encountered is respe ctively: 78%; 57%; 41%; 34%; 33%. We conclude that a considerable number of the diseases required by the Blueprint and therefore by the government is available in two four-week periods in the inpatient clerkship, when this co mprises a stay at a general subdivision and a specialist-oriented subdivisi on. To be more precise about the fulfilment of the logbook requirements, fu rther research is necessary.