How Much Patient-Centred Care (PCC) is Taught to Medical Students in Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of the University of Tabuk Medical Curriculum

Abstract

Background: Medical education’s role is to equip medical students with competencies to meet the patients’ needs. The CanMEDs framework presents key competency areas of medical practice that a typical medical curriculum should incorporate. The SaudiMeds competency framework was established to achieve the purpose of the CanMEDs framework in Saudi medical schools. As a result, meeting these competencies is meant to enhance the provision of patient-centered care (PCC). However, the extent of incorporation of PCC in Saudi medical curriculum has not been fully explored. Aims: To determine how much PCC content is taught to medical students at the University of Tabuk by mapping the common PCC domain to the MBBS program Methods: This study applied the sequential exploratory mixed-methods design as the qualitative data on the curriculum content was explored widely and then corroborated with the survey findings. Using the case study approach, the study explored how much PCC is taught to medical students at the University of Tabuk. Data was obtained from the MBBS program specification document, course modules for the six academic years, and self-administered questionnaire. Manifest content analysis approach was used to locate 27 PCC domains in the MBBS program learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and values), course learning outcomes, and teaching/learning strategies. Curriculum mapping was done to create links between the PCC domains and the MBBS program documents retrieved from the university. The higher the number of links, the greater the extent of teaching PCC to the university’s medical students. Results: All the 27 PCC domains are incorporated into the MBBS program at the University of Tabuk. The questionnaire results corroborated this finding. Problem-based learning (PBL) and case-based learning (CBL) dominate the teaching/learning strategies used at the university. The study also revealed that PCC is highly concentrated in the clinical years than in the preclinical years. Discussion: There is congruency between the MBBS program at the University of Tabuk and SaudiMeds/CanMeds) frameworks. Since the university’s mission is to churn out competent graduates to serve the community, strict adherence to PCC concepts will contribute positively to the attainment of this mission. In conclusion, there is a positive trend in the incorporation of PCC in the medical curriculum, which should be a norm nationally.