Canadian undergraduate medical education: family physician involvement.

A questionnaire designed to determine the nature and extent of family physicians' involvement in Canadian undergraduate medical education was sent in the fall of 1985 to the person in each department of family medicine in the 16 Canadian medical schools who was responsible for the undergraduate program. The questionnaires were followed up by visits to each school. The findings revealed that approximately 1200 family physicians were teaching 7400 Canadian medical students. There was considerable variation in the total curriculum time devoted to family medicine and in the content of and support for an undergraduate curriculum in family medicine across the country. In order to achieve nationally acceptable standards and greater continuity between undergraduate and postgraduate training, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges should develop objectives and program requirements.