Curriculum Proposal for Respiratory Diseases Training During Internal Medicine Residence

Resumo

Introduction: Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Portugal and across Europe. Portuguese Internal Medicine training program covers knowledge in this area, but in a generic way.

We present a curricular proposal for training in respiratory diseases in Internal Medicine in Portugal, inspired by the recommendations of the European Respiratory Society, aiming to adapt and harmonize training in the field of respiratory diseases. We developed a proposal that includes milestones and entrustable professional activities, with the goal of facilitating a competency-based evaluation. This innovative approach allows the curriculum to be flexible, adjusting to the individual learning pace of the Internal Medicine Residents, and not just the elapsed time from the beginning of the training.

Methods: We used questionnaires sent to internists with experience in managing respiratory patients, department directors, local responsible for training, and residents in Interna Medicine to ensure a comprehensive consensus on the competencies that should be integrated into the training.

Results: The results from the 88 responses obtained indicate a strong consensus for the inclusion of 196 objectives out of the 262 initially analyzed, with 97 of these objectives receiving strong recommendations from all consulted groups.

We discuss how our curricular proposal can benefit both trainees and trainers by aligning the training with the crucial competencies required for the practice of Internal Medicine.

Conclusion: In conclusion, we propose a significant improvement in Internal Medicine training in the respiratory area, based on a broad consensus and the ability to adapt teaching to the individual needs of the interns, which promotes a more dynamic and competency-oriented medical education.