Mandatory clerkship in physical medicine and rehabilitation: effect on medical students' knowledge of physiatry.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of a 2-week clerkship on the perceptions and knowledge of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) among fourth-year medical students.

DESIGN

Survey of fourth-year medical students before and after completion of a mandatory clerkship.

RESULTS

Knowledge of PM&R by fourth-year medical students is marginal, but a clerkship increases the awareness of the practice of physiatry.

CONCLUSIONS

Mandatory clerkships can help expose future physicians to the benefits of physiatric services and should be pursued by academic PM&R departments.