The Hamburg integrated medical degree program iMED.

The integrated medical degree program (iMED) was established in winter semester 2012/2013 at the Faculty of Medicine of Universität Hamburg with the aim of improving medical education. The main features of the iMED medical degree program include the close integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, scientific orientation and the teaching of psychosocial and communication skills. All these features are commonly found in the modular compulsory core curriculum and elective courses ("2nd Tracks"): The compulsory core curriculum comprises 19 modules which are arranged thematically in seven module groups and cover three stages of a "learning spiral".

Exploring the value and role of integrated supportive science courses in the reformed medical curriculum iMED: a mixed methods study.

Background: Heterogeneous basic science knowledge of medical students is an important challenge for medical education. In this study, the authors aimed at exploring the value and role of integrated supportive science (ISS) courses as a novel approach to address this challenge and to promote learning basic science concepts in medical education. ISS courses were embedded in a reformed medical curriculum.

Effect of medical education on students' attitudes toward psychiatry and individuals with mental disorders.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of medical education on students' attitudes toward psychiatry and psychiatric patients, and examined the usefulness of a new evaluation tool: the 6-item Psychiatric Experience, Attitudes, and Knowledge (PEAK-6).

Method: Authors studied the attitudes of 116 medical students toward psychiatry and individuals with mental disorders, using two questionnaires before and after a 12-week module of "psychosocial medicine." Results of the 30-item questionnaire Attitudes Toward Psychiatry (ATP-30) were compared with the results of PEAK-6.

Valuation and attainment of treatment goals in schizophrenia: perspectives of patients, relatives, physicians, and payers.

Objective: This study investigated and compared the valuation and perceived attainment of multiple treatment goals in schizophrenia from the perspectives of four different groups of stakeholders.

Method: Twenty treatment goals (identified in a qualitative patient-based pre-study) were ranked and rated according to their relevance in standardized interviews. Goal attainment was also rated.