AIM

This paper describes the performance of 5th year medical students in multiple choice question (MCQ) examinations before and after a geriatric medicine teaching block.

METHODS

A 30-question MCQ test was administered at the start and a 45-question one at the end of the course.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant improvement in the MCQ scores from a mean of 62% (SD 10.4) to 75.2% (SD 7.9) (P < 0.001). Total mean scores for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Geriatrics Knowledge test improved from 65% (SD 10.4) to 73%(SD 11.7) (P < 0.001). Total mean scores for the American Geriatric Society (AGS) Geriatrics Review Syllabus MCQs improved from 59.3% (SD 17.0) to 78.1% (SD 12.1) (P < 0.001). Post-course, students scored equally well in the new questions, the validated UCLA test and the AGS questions.

CONCLUSION

An undergraduate geriatric medicine clinical teaching block in senior clinical years can increase students' knowledge in geriatric medicine.