Partial adoption of ‘minimal core curriculum’ in undergraduate teaching of family medicine: a cross-sectional study among Central and South-Eastern European medical schools

BACKGROUND: In 2011, Tandeter et al. published a list of 15 themes, based on a Delphi survey among representatives of the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice and Family Medicine (EURACT), and suggested this be the 'minimal core curriculum' (MCC) for undergraduate education in family medicine. ----- OBJECTIVES: To determine: (1) if medical schools in the former Yugoslavia region are familiar with the MCC; and (2) to what degree it is being taught to medical students. ----- METHODS: In July 2015, a questionnaire was distributed to 19 medical schools in the former Yugoslavia region. A copy of the description of the curriculum for GP/FM was requested from participants. Two researchers conducted content analysis of the curricula according to the 15 predefined MCC themes, independently. ----- RESULTS: Thirteen (68%) medical schools responded. Of these, 10 (77%) stated that they were familiar with the MCC. Not a single institution encompassed all 15 MCC themes. The number of themes included by individual medical schools ranged from 6/15 (40%) to 13/15 (87%).The following themes were covered by 12 of 13 (92%) medical schools: Introduction to GP/FM; communication skills; prevention and health promotion; and management of chronic diseases. The three themes most poorly covered were: consulting skills (5/13), management of diseases at an early, undifferentiated stage (2/13) and decision-making based on prevalence and incidence (1/13). ----- CONCLUSION: Despite familiarity with EURACT's MCC among medical schools in the former Yugoslavia region, significant variation in curricula content exists, and no curriculum covered all MCC themes