Dedicated teaching block for undergraduate geriatric medicine improves knowledge

Aim: This paper describes the performance of 5th year medical students in multiple choice question (MCQ) examinations before and after a geriatric medicine teaching block.

Methods: A 30-question MCQ test was administered at the start and a 45-question one at the end of the course.

Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the MCQ scores from a mean of 62% (SD 10.4) to 75.2% (SD 7.9) (P < 0.001). Total mean scores for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Geriatrics Knowledge test improved from 65% (SD 10.4) to 73%(SD 11.7) (P < 0.001). Total mean scores for the American Geriatric Society (AGS) Geriatrics Review Syllabus MCQs improved from 59.3% (SD 17.0) to 78.1% (SD 12.1) (P < 0.001). Post-course, students scored equally well in the new questions, the validated UCLA test and the AGS questions.

Conclusion: An undergraduate geriatric medicine clinical teaching block in senior clinical years can increase students' knowledge in geriatric medicine.