Undergraduate curriculum reform in Saudi Medical Schools. Which direction to go?

Authors

• Yousef M. Al-Gindan, King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Abdulsalam A. Al-Sulaiman, Department of Neurology, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Abdulatif Al-Faraidy, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Curriculum reform in undergraduate medical education is quite essential for the success of the educational process. Saudi medical schools have been involved in curriculum reform over the past 2 decades. Review of the existing literature identifies the following as problems with today9s curriculum including: Overcrowding of the curriculum, over presentation of some subjects, presence of relatively non-relevant subjects, dissociation between basic and clinical sciences, repetition of lectures and exams, need for new subjects of clinical relevance, predominantly hospital based medical education with minimal community-based practice, as well as non-optimal use of resources. The authors put forth suggestions for reform of the current curriculum to meet today9s problems and future demands.

Article Type

Review

First Page

324

Last Page

326

Recommended Citation

Al-Gindan, Yousef M.; Al-Sulaiman, Abdulsalam A.; and Al-Faraidy, Abdulatif (2000) "Undergraduate curriculum reform in Saudi Medical Schools. Which direction to go?," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 21: Iss. 4, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.1139