Abstract
Thirty years ago, Abrahamson described the main curriculum problems in undergraduate medical education as "diseases of the curriculum". Based on our own experience and knowledge, we propose the inclusion of a new condition named "autoimmune curriculitis", which is produced by the students themselves. In this condition, the students are who decide to "swell" the curriculum, by excessively participating in multiple intra and extramural activities, competing to markedly improve their academic performance. Unlike other curriculum diseases, this one may directly affect the students personal life and health, especially if it begins as early as in the first semester of the career Two main aspects of medical education have a key role in the genesis of this disease: the so-called hidden curriculum and the selection process used in the postgraduate programs in Chile. Unfortunately the prevalence and severity of this curriculum disease is a growing threat, due to the increasing number of undergraduate students in Chile without an equivalent increment of postgraduate programs. Given its characteristics, eradicating this disease seems quite difficult. To do so, it is necessary for postgraduate selection committees to give a clear sign regarding the most relevant attributes they consider when choosing the candidates and, consequently to discourage the exaggerated collection of curriculum records. Moreover, we need a group of students faithful to their own interests, who will keep growing in depth those that are more meaningful to them.
Highlights
Thirty years ago, Abrahamson described the main curriculum problems in undergraduate medical education asdiseases of the curriculum
Esta “inflamación del currículo” no siempre busca un mejor desempeño profesional futuro, sino que muchas veces carece de una justificación o coherencia con los intereses, valores e ideales del estudiante
Diversos estudios han mostrado que los estudiantes de medicina presentan con frecuencia morbilidad psiquiátrica y altos niveles de estrés[9,10], muchas veces asociados a sobrecarga de trabajo
Summary
Abrahamson hizo referencia a la “Curriculoesclerosis”, producida por una extrema departamentalización, que hace muy rígido el programa de estudios. En la “Curriculitis iatrogénica”, son las propias instituciones las responsables de la enfermedad, al estar en forma continua modificando los planes de estudios, sin dar tiempo a entender ni tampoco evaluar los cambios efectuados. La “Curriculitis intercurrente” puede sobrevenir en forma simultánea con cualquiera de las otras enfermedades y obedece a la incompatibilidad del actual currículo con los problemas sociales que aquejan a la región donde está inserta una escuela de medicina. La génesis de estas enfermedades se asocia a una relativa incapacidad de los comités de currículo: éstos no tienen el poder necesario para estructurar un plan de estudios coherente y supervisar su implementación o, por el contrario, realizan cambios sucesivos sin darse el tiempo para evaluar su impacto en las competencias de los egresados. Los estudiantes experimentan los signos y síntomas de estas enfermedades, pero no son responsables de su génesis ni de su tratamiento
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