Accepted Type
Oral
Code
OH1-3-3
Acceptance Declaration
Accept
Additional Information
I declare I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program.
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
no
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Oral
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Student
Affiliation
Considered for Poster
yes
Title
The Companion Curriculum: An evaluation of arts and humanities in medical education.
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
The key contributions of arts and humanities to medical education are known, but Canadian medical schools vary widely in their offerings. The Companion Curriculum (CC) is a student-curated set of humanities content, available optionally for medical students at the University of Toronto. This study is the first to evaluate the CC teaching model and to identify key challenges and motivators for its use.
Methods
A mixed-methods evaluation gauged uptake, perceived effectiveness, and student experiences with the CC across 4 years, using an online survey and focus groups. Narrative data were analyzed thematically and supported by descriptive statistical analysis of numeric data.
Results
Our survey response rate was 12% (128/1036 students). Roughly half of respondents were aware of the CC (n=67, 51.54%), and half had engaged with it at least once (n=69, 53.49%). Among students who did engage, 80% (n=55) reported learning something new and most relevant to the CanMEDS roles of Communicator, Health Advocate, Collaborator and Professional.
Student perspectives were captured in two 3-4 person focus groups. Emergent themes were: The Value of Medical Humanities, Student Attitudes, Institutional Neglect, Integration Challenges, and Recommendations. The CC was valued, but an educational culture prioritizing objectivity seemed a fundamental barrier to its uptake. Students likewise felt there was insufficient time for what is perceived as "additional work".
Conclusion
Despite demonstrated student interest in medical humanities, engagement with the CC is poor. Encouraging meaningful student engagement with arts and humanities requires institutional buy-in and promotion, with a focus on early and sustainable curricular integration.
Keyword 1
Medical humanities
Keyword 2
Program assessment
Keyword 3
Quality improvement
Level of Training
Undergraduate
Abstract Themes
Curriculum
Curriculum
- Evaluation
- Quality improvement
Additional Theme (First choice)
Undergraduate
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Student Affairs
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Assessment
Authors
Presenter
Charlotte Axelrod
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
