The extent of military medicine topics taught in military family practice residency programs: Part I. A survey of current military family practice residency directors

Abstract

The Military Unique Curricula (MUC) was published in 1988 as a guideline for instruction at military residencies in military-specific topics. To evaluate the degree of implementation and the perceived necessity of the MUC curricula and the attitudes and logistical factors relevant to military medicine instruction in military family practice residencies, questionnaires were sent to all 18 military family practice residency directors. The results reveal a wide range of opinions regarding the importance of military medicine and the amount of instruction of military medicine topics among the residency programs. The total number of topics taught was correlated (p < 0.05) with years as residency director, awareness of the MUC, and an opinion that the material would not be better taught at service-specific schools. There appears to have been little influence of the MUC on the curricula of military family practice residencies since its publication.