Creating a sport and exercise medicine undergraduate syllabus: a delphi study

Abstract

Background Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is a growing speciality in the United Kingdom (UK). This growth has not been replicated in SEM teaching at an undergraduate level and SEM-related topics in schools of medicine in the UK are under-represented. As SEM continues to develop as a specialty it is important to consider how it is embedded at all levels of training. The aim of this project was to establish a consensus on SEM-related skills and knowledge relevant for undergraduate medical students in the UK, ultimately creating a curriculum of learning objectives (LOs). Methods A modified Delphi survey was utilised to seek consensus on LOs suitable for incorporation into UK medical school curricula. An expert panel with adequate knowledge in the field was recruited. The initial curriculum was created by the research team using already established postgraduate SEM curricula. All learning objectives were sent to the expert panel for opinions in phases. Levels of agreement and comments made by the expert panel were reviewed after each phase until a consensus on each learning objective was made. Results The expert panel was made up of 45 individuals, with 35 also completing phase 2 (78% retention rate). The initial curriculum contained 58 learning objectives separated into 9 themes. In phase 1 31% (18/58) were accepted outright, 48% (28/58) were altered and 19% (11/58) were rejected. Two additional learning objectives were added. Of the 49 LOs included in phase 2, 98% (48/49) were accepted. The final curriculum was made up of 9 sub-themes and 48 LOs. Conclusion Sport and Exercise Medicine is a broad ranging and rapidly growing speciality. It is important to establish SEM education in all levels of medical education, including undergraduate level. This is the first published version of a Delphi SEM curriculum for undergraduate medical teaching.

Integration of Sports and Medicine in Higher Medical Education: Challenges, Significance, and Strategies

“…Students are becoming increasingly aware of the health benefits of medical sports practices, actively engaging in physical activities and fitness. Fields such as rehabilitation medicine, sports medicine, exercise prescriptions, and health assessments are outcomes of the integration of medicine and sports, serving as crucial breakthroughs for future reforms in integrated medical and sports education [9].…”

Physical Activity Promotes Well Being: Medical Students' Engagement and Perspective. A Cross-Sectional Study Scoped Through Innovation and Technology

“…Recent movements for PA integration in undergraduate medical education curriculum were adopted at an authoritative level, such as recommendations commissioned by Public Health England [51,53]. Moreover, a recent Delphi study explored the feasibility of integrating an exercise medicine syllabus into undergraduate medical schools' curriculum, and found a promising level of acceptance in the UK [54].…”

“…Future studies are needed to evaluate the role of technology-based, and AIdriven, PA in achieving this goal.Furthermore, the rising coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic indiscriminately impacted the general population's engagement in physical activity, as well as the educational process, globally affecting medical institutions [46]. However, emerging technological advances including online distant learning and evaluation platforms, e-learning resources, digital simulation based education, virtual reality technology (VR) and arti cial intelligence (AI), have grown as a necessity, advocating for continuity of health professions education during dire circumstances, that is inclusive of limited resource countries [47][48][49].Innovative introduction of physical activity in curricular development within medical institutions was suggested in recent years, whether as an embedded part of undergraduate curriculum [50][51][52][53][54], advocated by Public Health England, or by incorporating physical activity counseling and prescription into medical schools, advocated by Medical Council of Canada [55, 56].However, discussing technological advances tailored towards physical activity, such as monitoring devices, wearable activity trackers, mobile technology, arti cial intelligence driven recommendation systems and chatbots, as a potential in uencer of medical students' involvement and active promotion, is yet to be demonstrated.This study aims, therefore, to traditionally assess medical students' overall engagement in any form of physical activity; their motivation; their overall perspective on its preventive signi cance and potential barriers including academic load, while discussing the potential role of innovative educational strategies, incorporating technology driven physical activity, in enhancing their adherence and advocation.…”

“…Innovative introduction of physical activity in curricular development within medical institutions was suggested in recent years, whether as an embedded part of undergraduate curriculum [50][51][52][53][54], advocated by Public Health England, or by incorporating physical activity counseling and prescription into medical schools, advocated by Medical Council of Canada [55, 56].…”