The Performance of Preclinical Medical Students in Traditional and Competency-Based Curricula: Menoufia University Experience

Abstract

Abstract Background: Egypt's undergraduate medical students have been following a standard curriculum known as the 6+1 curriculum or the traditional curriculum for many years. However, five years ago, Egyptian universities adopted a new competency-based and integrated curriculum. The competency-based curriculum aims to develop professional competent physiciansequipped with knowledge and skills. Aim: This study aimed to compare the academic performance of Menoufia medical students during the preclinical phase in both traditional and competency-based curricula. Methods: A retrospectivecohort study was conducted on two consecutive batches of medical students at Menoufia University. The first batch (411 students) followed the traditional curriculum, and the second batch (675 students) followed the competency-based curriculum. Results: Students in the traditional curriculum achieved significantly greater GPA (p=0.010) and overall percentage (p=0.018) scores than didstudents in the competency-based curriculum. Conclusions: The pooreracademic performance of students in the competency-based integrated curriculum compared to that in the traditional curriculum may be attributed to factors such as frequent examinations, limited time available for modules, and the fact that they were the first batch to experience this new system.