Evaluation of a New Core Curriculum on Alcohol Use Disorders for Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract

This study was aimed to review and rewrite the undergraduate curriculum on alcohol use disorders, implement the changes and assess for any early evidence of an improvement in knowledge. A three-stage process was used to review the old curriculum and a new one was designed around the five undergraduate years. Students' opinions were sought about the acceptability of the new curriculum using a questionnaire, to which 93 responded and 70 volunteers were objectively assessed using an examination based on questions from the text of the Medical Students' Handbook on Alcohol and Health. There was no evidence of any improvement in the students' knowledge using the old curriculum. After teaching with the new curriculum, examination scores significantly increased (P < 0.0001). There was no difference between the sexes. The new curriculum was assessed as acceptable to the students. This new curriculum reflects the need for a new teaching method and not only offers improved teaching, but also produces a generation of doctors equipped to identify alcohol-related problems and to deliver brief interventions, helping to reduce the projected consequences of alcohol abuse and the associated burden on the health service.