Challenges In Pediatric Education
Objective: To delineate current needs in education in pediatrics in medical schools, postgraduate vocational training and continuing education while in professional practice, and to explore approaches to meeting these needs.
Methods: Review of health care needs of children and young people; review of curriculum and learning approaches; review of evaluations of outcomes.
Results: The objectives and content of a range of pediatric education programs were reviewed, including selection processes, learning approaches, assessments, incorporation of electives and research, and time allocated. Evaluations of program outcomes were reviewed.
Education in pediatrics must take a population based approach. Programs should provide a health emphasis as well as a disease based approach. Challenges identified for the development of pediatric educational programs are societal changes, changing child health needs, changing workforce structures, health care system changes, changes in funding for professional education, and changes in information and instructional technologies. Educational programs in pediatrics should provide skills in advocacy for children and their families.
Workforce needs assessments have an important role in determining selection criteria for entry to training programs and the content of educational and continuing professional development programs.
Conclusions: Education programs in pediatrics should have clearly defined objectives, evaluations which are appropriate to the objectives, and should continue throughout professional practice. The learning programs must develop workforce knowledge, skills and functions relevant to the specific health needs of each country's population of children and young people., http://www.100md.com(RobertonDM.)
Methods: Review of health care needs of children and young people; review of curriculum and learning approaches; review of evaluations of outcomes.
Results: The objectives and content of a range of pediatric education programs were reviewed, including selection processes, learning approaches, assessments, incorporation of electives and research, and time allocated. Evaluations of program outcomes were reviewed.
Education in pediatrics must take a population based approach. Programs should provide a health emphasis as well as a disease based approach. Challenges identified for the development of pediatric educational programs are societal changes, changing child health needs, changing workforce structures, health care system changes, changes in funding for professional education, and changes in information and instructional technologies. Educational programs in pediatrics should provide skills in advocacy for children and their families.
Workforce needs assessments have an important role in determining selection criteria for entry to training programs and the content of educational and continuing professional development programs.
Conclusions: Education programs in pediatrics should have clearly defined objectives, evaluations which are appropriate to the objectives, and should continue throughout professional practice. The learning programs must develop workforce knowledge, skills and functions relevant to the specific health needs of each country's population of children and young people., http://www.100md.com(RobertonDM.)