Mandatory clerkship in physical medicine and rehabilitation: Effect on medical students' knowledge of physiatry

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of a 2-week clerkship on the perceptions and knowledge of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) among fourth-year medical students. Design: Survey of fourth-year medical students before and after completion of a mandatory clerkship. Results: Knowledge of PM&R by fourth-year medical students is marginal, but a clerkship increases the awareness of the practice of physiatry. Conclusions: Mandatory clerkships can help expose future physicians to the benefits of physiatric services and should be pursued by academic PM&R departments.