Abstract Manager

Dedicated Poster

LP9 - 06

Accept

I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.

no

General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)

Poster

Education Innovation

Student

Student-Led Curriculum Innovation: Implementing Training on Medication Safety in Transitions of Care, Polypharmacy and High-Risk Situations in Undergraduate Medical Education

Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of injury and preventable harm worldwide. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its third Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm. Three key action areas associated with substantial morbidity and mortality were highlighted for improvement of medication safety - transitions of care, polypharmacy and high-risk situations. As such, it is crucial for medical students to achieve competency in medication safety while prioritizing these three areas.

The current MD Program curriculum was reviewed to determine coverage of the content of interest. The review process revealed content is sparse, with only limited material on medication safety in polypharmacy in the year 4 Geriatrics clerkship. Subsequently, a scoping review was performed to identify best practices in medical education. Guided by the literature, learning objectives and an eLearning module were developed for integration in the clerkship curriculum. Importantly, the use of case vignettes resembling common clinical scenarios link theory to practice and enable practical application of concepts. Knowledge is assessed on the final, fourth-year comprehensive examination. For evaluation, a pre‐survey determines students' awareness and a post-survey assesses impact.

This innovation addresses a major curriculum gap and equips medical students with early and essential training to combat the significant risks unsafe medication practices pose to patient health and safety. This project will raise awareness at other institutions who may also be lacking curriculum coverage of this crucial topic, and it may serve as an effective model to inform curriculum design and development.

medication safety

polypharmacy

curriculum

Undergraduate

Curriculum

Patient Safety

Undergraduate

Assessment

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes