Evaluation of extracurricular medical education in cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology; students’ opinion on current medical training

Abstract

Introduction: Medical students in the Netherlands have a relatively low exposure to cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology. This results in discrepancies between starting levels of medical residents and expected standards in clinical practice. Another side effect is the international decline in interest in a career in these cardiovascular fields. To compensate for this, extracurricular education programs focused on cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology have been set up. This study aims to evaluate the impact and benefits of an extracurricular education program on students' knowledge of cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology and to explore possible factors involved in (academic) career decision making. Methods: 66 participants were enrolled in the extracurricular education program VECTOR and were included in a cross-sectional cohort study. All participants scored their familiarity with different aspects of cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology prior to and after the course. Data was analyzed using Linear regression and Wilcoxon Signed Rank testing. Results: Participants demonstrated a significant trend towards improved familiarity with cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology after the program (p = <.001). Significant increased knowledge scores were reported for all specified subdomains after the course with an increase in academic interest in cardiology (p = <.001) and cardiothoracic surgery (p = <.001). Students revealed that clinical responsibilities and a healthy work-life balance were considered most important when deciding upon their future career. Conclusion: This study highlights the benefit of an extracurricular education program in cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology for undergraduates and could possibly aid students in preparing for clinical practice.