[Effects of examinations on learning and the curriculum: A position from Switzerland].

The federal law for higher academic medical professions (MedBG) constitutes a program accreditation as well as a federal licensing exam in medicine; both instruments influence the curricula and their further development.Parallel to the Bologna reform in Switzerland for all university degrees the federal licensing exam in medicine has been revised. The swiss catalogue of learning objectives (SCLO, 2 edition 2008) served as mandatory content reference for the exam and initiated numerous curricular developments.

Do they know too little? An inter-institutional study on the anatomical knowledge of upper-year medical students based on multiple choice questions of a progress test.

The depth of medical students' knowledge of human anatomy is often controversially discussed. In particular, members of surgical disciplines raise concerns regarding deficits in the factual anatomical and topographical knowledge of upper-year students. The question often raised is whether or not medical students have sufficient anatomical and topographical knowledge when they graduate from medical school.

Development and alignment of undergraduate medical curricula in a web-based, dynamic Learning Opportunities, Objectives and Outcome Platform (LOOOP).

Introduction: This study presents a web-based method and its interface ensuring alignment of all parts of a curriculum map including competencies, objectives, teaching and assessment methods, workload and patient availability. Needs, acceptance and effectiveness are shown through a nine-year study.

Methods: After a comprehensive needs assessment, the curriculum map and a web-based interface "Learning Opportunities, Objectives and Outcome Platform" (LOOOP) were developed according to Harden's conceptual framework of 10-steps for curriculum mapping.

Progress testing in German speaking countries.

Progress testing was introduced in 1999 at the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin. This Berlin progress test medizin (PTM) started to cooperate with other Medical Schools in 2000. The cooperation grew continuously and now 13 Medical schools in Germany and Austria take part, including more than 8500 Students.

Medical students' attitudes towards science and involvement in research activities: a comparative study with students from a reformed and a traditional curriculum.

Background And Aims: Little is known about medical students' attitudes towards science and scientific methodology. We aimed to evaluate these attitudes and students' involvement in research activities.

Methods: Cross-sectional study comparing fifth-year medical students from the reformed and the traditional curriculum of the Charité University Medical Centre Berlin, Germany.