Improving Medical Education: Enhancing the Behavioral and Social Science Content of Medical School Curricula

by Cuff, Patricia A.

• ISBN13: 9780309091428
• ISBN10: 030909142X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: NATL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

Summary

Roughly half of all deaths in the United States are linked to behavioral and social factors. The leading causes of preventable death and disease in the United States are smoking, sedentary lifestyle, poor dietary habits, and alcohol consumption. To make measurable improvements in the health of Americans, physicians must be equipped with the knowledge and skills from the behavioral and social sciences needed to recognize, understand, and effectively respond to patients as individuals, not just to their symptoms.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY	1	(14)
Abstract,	1	(1)
Role of Behavioral and Social Factors in Health and Disease,	2	(2)
Why Physicians Need Education and Training in the Behavioral and Social Sciences,	4	(1)
Statement of Task,	4	(1)
Current State of the Behavioral and Social Sciences in Curricula of U.S. Medical Schools,	5	(1)
Conclusions and Recommendations,	6	(9)
1 INTRODUCTION	15	(5)
Role of Behavioral and Social Factors in Health and Disease,	15	(3)
Purpose of the Study,	18	(1)
Study Origin and Tasks and Organization of the Report,	18	(2)
2 CURRENT APPROACHES TO INCORPORATING THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULA	20	(32)
Summary,	20	(2)
The Behavioral and Social Sciences in Current Medical School Curricula,	22	(2)
Barriers to Systematic Analysis of the Behavioral and Social Sciences in Medical School Curricula,	24	(3)
Inventory of Current Behavioral and Social Science Content in Medical School Curricula,	27	(5)
Approaches of Selected Medical Schools to Integrating Behavioral and Social Science Content into Their Curricula,	32	(18)
Need for an Improved Database on the Status of Behavioral and Social Science Instruction in U.S. Medical Schools,	50	(2)
3 THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULA	52	(35)
Summary,	52	(6)
Mind-Body Interactions in Health and Disease,	58	(5)
Patient Behavior,	63	(5)
Physician Role and Behavior,	68	(6)
Physician-Patient Interactions,	74	(5)
Social and Cultural Issues in Health Care,	79	(4)
Health Policy and Economics,	83	(4)
4 STRATEGIES FOR INCORPORATING THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULA	87	(12)
Summary,	87	(2)
Barriers to Incorporating the Behavioral and Social Sciences into Medical School Curricula,	89	(1)
Strategies for Curriculum Change,	90	(9)
REFERENCES	99	(20)
APPENDIXES
A Methods	119	(16)
B Committee and Staff Biographies	135	(6)
INDEX	141