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At the heart of the Uncharted Sea: implementing a core curriculum of cardiology teaching for residents in an Australian quaternary cardiac centre

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Postgraduate medical education is unreliable and of varying quality, while house medical officers (HMOs) want structured teaching. AIM: We created and implemented a core curriculum of cardiology topics for HMOs and assessed how this was received and whether it improved their competency levels in managing patients. METHODS: The old teaching model (bedside teaching and journal club) was reviewed using a questionnaire to assess HMOs' competency in cardiology domains before and after their rotations, where they experienced most of their teaching and whether they preferred the old model or the proposed new model (core curriculum). A 10-part curriculum was developed in accordance with local physician training guidelines and delivered to consecutive HMO cohorts. The new model was assessed using a similar questionnaire, and responses were analysed and compared. Competency scores were based on a five-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Median competency scores significantly improved from 2.5 (IQR 2.0-3.0) before rotation to 4.0 (IQR 4.0-4.0) after rotation for both HMO groups; however, there was no significant difference in post-rotation scores between the two models. Almost all HMOs (98%) preferred the new model compared to the old model. A significantly higher proportion of HMOs reported most of their teaching came from the new model and that it helped them feel more comfortable managing cardiology patients. CONCLUSIONS: We report a strong desire from HMOs for structured curriculum teaching, which can improve clinical competency and help them manage patients. Delivery of a core curriculum is feasible and easy to implement and results in high satisfaction among HMOs.
DOI: 10.1111/imj.70227
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4415237671
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Cites: 5
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