Presence and Importance of Family Medicine Education in European Medical Schools:

Veronica Casado Vicente, Guillermo Viguera, Marimar Martínez, David Lerma Irureta, Rosa Magallón Botaya

Keywords: family medicine; medical school; medical education; primary care;

Background:

Family medicine plays a critical role in healthcare systems, serving as the cornerstone of primary care. This study revisits and extends the 2009 analysis of the inclusion and emphasis of family medicine in European medical school curricula. By examining changes over the past 15 years, we aim to assess the current state of family medicine education and its impact on students' interest and future specialty choices.

Research questions:

How has the presence of family medicine in European medical school curricula changed since 2009?
What is the current importance attributed to family medicine in these educational programs?
How does the extent of family medicine education influence medical students' interest in pursuing this specialty?
What is the relationship between the presence of family medicine in medical education and the quality of primary care in different European countries?

Method:

This comparative study will analyze data from medical school curricula across Europe, replicating the methodology used in the 2009 study. Surveys and interviews will be conducted with faculty members and medical students to gather qualitative and quantitative data. Additionally, national healthcare statistics will be reviewed to correlate educational practices with primary care quality indicators.

Results:

While specific results are yet to be obtained, we anticipate identifying significant trends and shifts in the inclusion of family medicine in medical education. Expected findings include an analysis of whether increased emphasis on family medicine correlates with higher student interest in this specialty and improved primary care quality.

Conclusions:

The study aims to provide insights into the evolution of family medicine education and its broader implications for healthcare systems. We expect to offer recommendations for enhancing medical curricula to better support primary care development.

Points for discussion:

Strategies to increase the presence of family medicine in medical education.The impact of medical education on students' specialty choices.

Correlation between family medicine education and primary care quality.

Potential policy implications for improving primary care through educational reforms.

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