The Contemporary Hidden Curriculum in Medical Education

Abstract

This article was migrated. The article was not marked as recommended. There is a renewed interest in teaching and cultivating compassionate patient-centered care among trainees and faculty. Much of the erosion in medical professionalism can be attributed to what has been labeled the "Hidden Curriculum." We have identified eight archetypal areas where the Hidden Curriculum exerts influence on trainees and faculty. These include: Lack of Accountability to Patients, The Influence of Legal Phobia, Physician and Nursing Overload (how documentation and busy work detracts from patient-centered care), Negative Attitudes and Apathy from Teachers, The Influence of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) in Patient Depersonalization, The Negative Effect of "Work-Life" Balance, The Concept of the "Difficult Patient," and the Negative impact of Evidence-Based Medicine on a Patient-Centered Approach. We believe that we need to focus and assess the residents and faculty's knowledge and attitudes towards the Hidden Curriculum. We believe that reflective learning can enhance professionalism, humanism and compassionate patient-centered care. Reflective learning with specific focus on hidden curriculum can also contribute to the continuous improvement of care in our complex health care environment. In addition interprofessional seminars debating impact of Hidden Curriculum can increase awareness among health professionals on the hidden curriculum in daily practice and education.