Does Curriculum Analysis in Clinical Residency Training Need to be Different?

Abstract

Objectives: Curriculum analysis is an essential process in exploring the validity of assumptions behind the curriculum and judging its perspectives, goals, and objectives. This study analysed the curriculum of the Internal Medicine Residency Programme at the Sudan Medical Specialisation Board, exploring the programme’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Materials and Methods: A qualitative descriptive analysis method using Harden Ten Questions framework was used, implemented through document analysis. Thematic analysis was used to categorise the findings following the Harden Ten Questions framework. Results: The analysis of this curriculum using Harden Ten Questions framework revealed that it is built on needs assessment, with clear objectives and contents, good organisation of the contents and a precise management process. However, there is a need to improve the areas related to training strategies, training methods, assessment methods and the learning environment. Conclusions: This study showed that the curriculum is built to meet the needs of the Sudanese community. The contents fit for internal medicine clinical residency and the methods of training are likely to foster long-life learning. The curriculum needs some improvement particularly in the following areas such as clinical teaching, trainee assessments, and learning environments. Harden Ten Questions framework for curricula was practical to some degree in analysing the postgraduate curriculum. However, some suggestions have been made regarding the original framework to make it more adaptable to curriculum analysis at postgraduate level. The systematic analysis is transferable to the analysis of other undergraduate or postgraduate medical curricula in Sudan.