Faculty evaluation of educational strategies in medical schools

Abstract

The study sought to evaluate faculty opinion of existing medical curricula in two medical schools, one in each of two countries, in terms of six educational strategies described by Harden et al. (1984). Using the ‘SPICES continuum’, it was found that useful information can be obtained from a large number of faculty for consideration during curriculum strategy evaluations. The research included opinion of members of the faculty from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain and the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu. From the profile of each medical school, significant differences between existing educational plans of the two medical schools were identified in several parameters of the ‘SPICES continuum’. It seemed that the faculty of both medical schools believe that a position towards the left in the ‘SPICES continuum’, meaning use of a student-centered, problem-based, integrated and community-oriented curriculum with electives, would be more appropriate in their respective schools. The ‘SPICES continuum’ seems to be a useful instrument for obtaining a quick quantitative faculty view about the educational program of the medical school.