JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Significant training gaps exist for telemedicine in undergraduate medical education (UME) and graduate medical education (GME).

Objective:

This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a national telemedicine curriculum, developed by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), for medical students and family medicine (FM) residents.

Methods:

17 medical schools and 17 FM residency programs implemented the curriculum between September 1 and December 31, 2021. Participating sites represented 25 states in all four U.S. census regions with balanced urban, suburban, and rural settings. A total of 1,203 learners, including 844 medical students (70%) and 359 FM residents (30%), participated. Outcomes were measured through self-reported Likert-scale responses.

Results:

More than 9 in 10 learners completed the entire curriculum. Across the modules, 78% (SD = 3) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they gained new knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes that will help them in their training and/or career; 87% (SD = 4) reported that the information presented was at the right level for them; 80% (SD = 2) reported that the structure of the modules was effective; and 78% (SD = 3) agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied. Overall experience did not differ significantly between medical students and FM residents on binary analysis. No consistent statistically significant relationships were found between participants’ responses and their institution’s geographic region, setting, or prior experience with a telemedicine curriculum.

Conclusions:

Both UME and GME learners, represented by diverse geographic regions and institutions, indicated that the curriculum was broadly acceptable and effective.