Pathways and Patients: building an innovative collaborative medical education curriculum between Valparaiso and Boston
Christina BriscoeAbath1, Hanalise Huff2, Ingrid Gutierrez3, Francisca Aguilera Gutierrez3, David Urion4, Juan Francisco Cabello3
1Boston Children's Hospital, 2National Institute of Health, 3Universidad de Valparaiso, 4Children'S Hospital Boston
Objective:
To construct a neurometabolism curriculum for residents from the Universidad de Valparaiso and Boston Children's Hospital, furthering a longstanding international partnership.
Background:
The current project arose from a symmetric collaboration between the Universidad de Valparaiso and Boston Children’s Hospital existing since 2006. Recognizing pediatric neurologists must identify and initiate treatment for neurometabolic diseases despite limited clinical exposure, we aimed to improve management of these rare conditions through an innovative curriculum.
Design/Methods:
The Pathways and Patients Neurometabolic Curriculum was designed according to Kern’s Six Step Curriculum Design with learning objectives designed based on Bloom’s taxonomy.
Results:
Twelve sessions were completed (02/22-6/22), with post-curriculum anonymous survey completed by 15 US and 7 Chilean trainees (76% completion rate) and 10/12 participants (83%) with neurometabolic conditions. Trainees reported low pre-session self-efficacy (US trainees mean 2.2-points on 7-point scale, SD 1.1; Chilean trainees 3.5/7, SD 1.6). For each neurometabolic conditions, Chilean residents had seen average 1-2 patients, and US trainees 0 patients. Residents had increased post-session self-efficacy (increase 2 or greater/7, n=17/22, 77%). All Chilean trainees and 73% of US trainees reported patient interviews were very helpful in knowledge retention. All respondents reported improved understanding of alternant healthcare system. Qualitative data from residents and patient participants reported value in normalizing day-to-day of patients with rare disease and intercultural exchange, as well as area for growth in translation quality.
Conclusions:
Symmetric, longitudinal global collaborations allow for burgeoning of creative initiatives to address training gaps. Trainees overall had low exposure and self-efficacy ratings for neurometabolic diseases, which improved with the curriculum. Patient interviews were helpful in retention of content (88%), understanding health systems, and lived reality of rare disease. In addition, the curriculum furthered secondary aims of improving intercultural exchange and awareness for resident physicians.