Critical analysis of the subspecialty stroke medicine curriculum: Social and political influences on its design and professionalism

Abstract

The curriculum comprises all learners' learning experiences that enable them to achieve specific learning outcomes. The Subspeciality Stroke Medicine Curriculum is designed to train doctors in Stroke Medicine as specialists capable of providing holistic healthcare in preventing, treating and rehabilitating stroke through achieving the desired competencies. This article discusses the influence of factors like the development of learning theory, the democratisation of social process, public demand for accountability and transparency, political imperatives, economic factors and professional standards set by professional bodies on curriculum design. The curriculum focuses on an outcome-based educational approach, workplace-based assessment with formative feedback to promote learning, summative evidence for knowledge, skills and attitudes and greater integration to make learning closer to actual practice. This outcome-based, integrated approach is approved by regulating bodies as positively impacting doctors' training and, consequently, the health of individual patients and society.