Medical undergraduate education is outdated. From the interns' point of view
Vikanes, A.; Akre, V.; Hjortdahl, P.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 112(19): 2541-2545
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 1412266 Document Number: 401034
This survey is based on a questionnaire sent to all 517 interns in Norway in December 1990, of whom 93% replied. Ten interns were interviewed personally. The majority felt they received a good theoretical basis during their medical studies, but less than a third stated that the education had adequate vocational orientation. Students from the University of Tromsø, were the exception in this respect. They were more positive towards the vocational aspects of their studies. Most interns had high expectations with regard to learning during internship, and half of them to have to face various traumatic experiences during this period. One out of two stated that, so far, their internship training had been inspiring for their career as medical practitioner. About a third replied that they doubted whether they would choose the same profession if they were to make this decision again. The results of this study emphasize the importance of the current changes in the curriculum at all four medical faculties in Norway. The results also suggest a need for better coordination of university studies and internship, and more structured teaching during the internship.