Undergraduate allergy teaching in a UK medical school: Comparison of the described and delivered curriculum

Abstract

Abstract:Background: Concerns have been raised about the adequacy of allergy teaching in UK undergraduate medical curricula. Our previous work, which involved undertaking a systematic analysis of the documented curricular learning objectives relating to allergy teaching in a UK medical school, found references to allergy teaching in each of the five years of study but also identified some apparent omissions in allergy teaching. These may represent actual gaps in relation to allergy training, or alternatively may reflect dissonance between the described and delivered curricula. Objective: To compare the described and delivered undergraduate curricula on allergy and allergy-related topics in a UK medical school. Methods: We identified and e-mailed the individuals responsible for each of the 43 modules in the five-year undergraduate medical programme at the University of Edinburgh, enquiring about the delivery of allergy-related teaching within their modules. We then compared these responses with the results of the previous study mapping allergy-related teaching across the undergraduate curriculum. Results: Fifty-one individuals were identified as being responsible for leading the 43 modules in the curriculum. Forty-nine (96%) of these module organisers responded to our enquiry; these individuals represented 41 of the 43 modules (95%). Module organisers reported that allergy-related teaching and learning was delivered in 14 modules (33%), was absent in 13 (30%) modules, and may occur to varying degrees within a further 10 (23%) modules. Module organisers' responses about the delivered curriculum on allergy were consistent with the findings from documented learning objectives in 21 (49%) modules. They also reported allergy teaching and learning in modules which had not been identified by examination of the learning objectives; however, there were still important gaps in the allergy-related curriculum.

ARIA guideline 2019: treatment of allergic rhinitis in the German health system

“…The continuous, accessible and holistic situation of GP treatment is important and can support the identification of allergy patients, enable early diagnosis, and be used for periodic follow-up of allergy patients to assess disease control, treatment adjustments, and patient-centered SDM [116][117][118]. But only few general practitioners receive formal basic training in allergology [119,120]. AIT risks can be minimized when AIT is performed by experienced physicians with well-trained personnel and only suitable patients are treated in an environment with available emergency care facilities for the treatment of systemic anaphylactic reactions [121][122][123][124].…”

Проект “Aria”: Шляхи Надання Медичної Допомоги При Алергічному Риніті (2019 Рік) – Україна

“…Постійний, легкий доступ та цілісна роль первинної медикосанітарної допомоги є найважливішим аспектом в пацієнто-центричному управлінні та спільному прийнятті рішень [83,84]. Тим не менше, лише деякі лікарі загальної практики отримують спеціалізовану додипломну або післядипломну освіту з алергології [85]. Підшкірна імунотерапія також може бути виконана в межах первинної ланки медичної допомоги і, хоча це пов'язано з деякими ризиками, вони можуть бути зведені до мінімуму, коли лікування надається спеціально навченими лікарями загальної практики, які ретельно відбирають відбору пацієнтів у відповідне середовище з наявними засобами первинної медичної допомоги при системних анафілактичних реакціях [86,87].…”

Pragmatic randomized controlled trial of an allergy intervention for children aged 6–16 with asthma and rhinitis in general practice

“…It did not include other characteristics of good practice such as age-appropriate written personal management plan, information on charities, websites and patient support groups and/or patient/parent education, all of which are incorporated into the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health care pathways [16]. A case could also be made for professional education in parallel, as it is well recognized that allergy training is lacking in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical curricula in the UK [17,18]. Reasons for a negative outcome in asthma symptoms must include the possibility that 12 months is not sufficient to achieve the full impact of avoidance measures (such as removing a pet from the household).…”