Sexual health curricula in U.S. medical schools: current educational objectives. Acad Psychiatry 2010;34(5):333-8
Date
09/14/2010Pubmed ID
20833900DOI
10.1176/appi.ap.34.5.333Scopus ID
2-s2.0-77956892003 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 26 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors identify the explicit and implicit objectives that shape decisions about what medical schools teach regarding human sexuality.
METHODS: The authors reviewed relevant articles in journals, physician licensing examinations, and publications by professional organizations to identify learning objectives for human sexuality in undergraduate medical curricula.
RESULTS: There is consensus about many of the attitudinal objectives and some of the skills medical students should acquire in sexual health. There is less consensus on the sexuality-related information student physicians need to master. The few common informational objectives focus narrowly on diagnosing sexual dysfunction and disease.
CONCLUSION: The model sexual health curricula, licensing exams, and guidelines from professional organizations mainly focus on the pathological aspects of sexuality. Student physicians should master fundamental information on healthy sexual function and become familiar with the roles of practitioners in various therapeutic disciplines in addressing sexual concerns and enhancing patients' sexual functioning and well-being. Instruction should also address ways to incorporate this important topic in time-limited interactions with patients.
Author List
Galletly C, Lechuga J, Layde JB, Pinkerton SAuthor
Carol L. Galletly JD, PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Attitude of Health PersonnelClinical Competence
Curriculum
Education, Medical
Guidelines as Topic
Humans
Licensure, Medical
Schools, Medical
Sexual Behavior
Societies, Medical
United States
