Celiac Disease in Medical Curriculum

Abstract

Introduction/Background: Students attending US medical schools are often turning to commercial resources as a primary learning tool during their preclinical years. However, the quality and content of the material presented within these sources has not been widely studied. This study sought to compare sources of preclinical medical education using celiac disease, a common autoimmune illness. Celiac disease has an exceedingly variable range of presentations across many body systems, including subclinical symptoms. Despite accessible testing and treatment, most individuals with celiac have not been diagnosed, imposing significant disease burden. Study objective/Hypothesis: This study sought to evaluate and compare the IUSM preclinical curriculum and popular commercial resources regarding their presentation of celiac disease. Methods: After conducting a literature review, an evidence-based rubric was created to evaluate information about celiac disease. The rubric was applied to the IUSM preclinical curriculum and USMLE World, First Aid for the USMLE Step 1, and Boards and Beyond, commercial resources widely used by preclinical medical students. Results: The IUSM curriculum scored higher overall and higher in all but one category than all the commercial resources. USMLE World had the highest score of the commercial resources. All sources showed deficits in two or more categories. Conclusions: All sources assessed exhibit opportunities for improvement. However, the IUSM curriculum presented more thorough information regarding celiac disease. Although the commercial resources included within this study are used by students to prepare for standardized exams, they may be more concerned with improving test scores than providing students with the information needed to become effective physicians. Students may gain more complete information regarding celiac disease from the IUSM curriculum.