Development of a Model for Evidence Based Integration of Anatomy into a Competency Based Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum
Authors: Norris Madeleine E. , Johnson Marjorie I. , Rogers Kem A. , Martin Charys M. 
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Within the past decade, competency‐based medical education (CBME) has acquired a lot of attention. This pedagogical approach is a framework that assesses student performance based on their ability to use their knowledge and skills, and ensures all graduates are proficient in all outlined competencies. Anatomical science is one of the foundations for clinical application, but it remains unclear to students and educators what anatomically related abilities students are expected to achieve prior to clerkship. The Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada) is undergoing a curriculum renewal to implement a CBME pedagogical approach. As a result, the integration of anatomy into the curriculum will be modified. To ensure our third‐year medical students are competent in the necessary fundamentals, an evidence‐based approach must be taken to integrate the anatomical sciences into the new curriculum. Thus, the specific aims of this study are to: i) develop a questionnaire to establish anatomical concepts necessary for clerkship, ii) interview all clerkship directors within UME, and iii) create an assessment to determine the anatomical knowledge base of third‐year students entering clerkship rotations.

Methodology

A questionnaire, targeting pre‐clerkship anatomical education, will be created and used as a guide during interviews with all clerkship directors. Information will be gathered from the clerkship directors using this questionnaire for all six clerkship rotations (family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery). The information collected will then be used to create assessments to analyze the current anatomical knowledge of third‐year students entering their clerkship year.

Outcomes

Information gathered from the interview questionnaire will provide insights into what anatomical knowledge students should be able to apply to clinical scenarios before starting each clerkship rotation. Furthermore, this interview should also reveal anatomical concepts that could be taught in the clerkship year to integrate basic science learning with clinical learning. The same information will be utilized to create an assessment, which will be used to determine if our third‐year clerks are currently prepared, in regards to their anatomical knowledge application, within the current UME curriculum.

Discussion

The primary goal of CBME is to produce physicians who are well‐equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to successfully practice medicine. Anatomical knowledge is one fundamental for this success. Information collected form clerkship directors, in regards to the application high‐yield anatomical knowledge necessary for third‐year clerks, will be linked to expected abilities and milestones defined by the competency‐based UME curriculum. Furthermore, the data collected from the assessments will provide evidence to inform how we design and deliver anatomy in the renewed CBME curriculum at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.