Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative study
ABSTRACTStudies have shown that national-level initiatives to equip medical students with relevant digital competencies carry many benefits. Yet, few countries have outlined such competencies for clinical practice in the core medical school curriculum. This paper identifies current training gaps at...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Medical Education Online |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10872981.2023.2211820 |
| _version_ | 1827632247606345728 |
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| author | Humairah Zainal Xin Xiaohui Julian Thumboo Fong Kok Yong |
| author_facet | Humairah Zainal Xin Xiaohui Julian Thumboo Fong Kok Yong |
| author_sort | Humairah Zainal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTStudies have shown that national-level initiatives to equip medical students with relevant digital competencies carry many benefits. Yet, few countries have outlined such competencies for clinical practice in the core medical school curriculum. This paper identifies current training gaps at the national level in digital competencies needed by students in the formal curricula of all three medical schools in Singapore from the perspectives of clinical educators and institutional leaders. It bears implications for countries that intend to implement standardized learning objectives for training in these digital competencies. Findings were drawn from in-depth interviews with 19 clinical educators and leaders of local medical schools. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were interpreted using qualitative thematic analysis. Thirteen of the participants were clinical educators while 6 were deans or vice deans of education from one of the three medical schools in Singapore. While the schools have introduced some relevant courses, they are not standardized nationally. Moreover, the school’s niche areas have not been leveraged upon for training in digital competencies. Participants across all schools acknowledged that more formal training is needed in digital health, data management, and applying the principles of digital technologies. Participants also noted that the healthcare needs of the population, patient safety, and safe procedures in the utilization of digital healthcare technologies should be prioritized when determining the competencies needed by students. Additionally, participants highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among medical schools, and for a stronger link between current curriculum and clinical practice. The findings highlighted the need for better collaboration among medical schools in the sharing of educational resources and expertise. Furthermore, stronger collaborations with professional bodies and the healthcare system should be established to ensure that the goals and outcomes of medical education and the healthcare system are aligned. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:33:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-203dd34c31d34cd1ac06410271cc5342 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1087-2981 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:33:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medical Education Online |
| spelling | doaj.art-203dd34c31d34cd1ac06410271cc53422023-11-27T16:01:58ZengTaylor & Francis GroupMedical Education Online1087-29812023-12-0128110.1080/10872981.2023.2211820Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative studyHumairah Zainal0Xin Xiaohui1Julian Thumboo2Fong Kok Yong3Health Services Research Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, SingaporeHealth Services Research Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, SingaporeHealth Services Research Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, SingaporeABSTRACTStudies have shown that national-level initiatives to equip medical students with relevant digital competencies carry many benefits. Yet, few countries have outlined such competencies for clinical practice in the core medical school curriculum. This paper identifies current training gaps at the national level in digital competencies needed by students in the formal curricula of all three medical schools in Singapore from the perspectives of clinical educators and institutional leaders. It bears implications for countries that intend to implement standardized learning objectives for training in these digital competencies. Findings were drawn from in-depth interviews with 19 clinical educators and leaders of local medical schools. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were interpreted using qualitative thematic analysis. Thirteen of the participants were clinical educators while 6 were deans or vice deans of education from one of the three medical schools in Singapore. While the schools have introduced some relevant courses, they are not standardized nationally. Moreover, the school’s niche areas have not been leveraged upon for training in digital competencies. Participants across all schools acknowledged that more formal training is needed in digital health, data management, and applying the principles of digital technologies. Participants also noted that the healthcare needs of the population, patient safety, and safe procedures in the utilization of digital healthcare technologies should be prioritized when determining the competencies needed by students. Additionally, participants highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among medical schools, and for a stronger link between current curriculum and clinical practice. The findings highlighted the need for better collaboration among medical schools in the sharing of educational resources and expertise. Furthermore, stronger collaborations with professional bodies and the healthcare system should be established to ensure that the goals and outcomes of medical education and the healthcare system are aligned.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10872981.2023.2211820Technologymedical educationcurriculumclinical competenceSingapore |
| spellingShingle | Humairah Zainal Xin Xiaohui Julian Thumboo Fong Kok Yong Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative study Medical Education Online Technology medical education curriculum clinical competence Singapore |
| title | Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Digital competencies for Singapore’s national medical school curriculum: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | digital competencies for singapore s national medical school curriculum a qualitative study |
| topic | Technology medical education curriculum clinical competence Singapore |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10872981.2023.2211820 |
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