A study of health promotion contents in medical curriculum, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Thailand

Abstract

Health promotion is process of enabling people to have good health. Physician is one of medical professions who have leading role in health care so they should have knowledge of health promotion. Undergraduate medical curriculum should be included health promotion. Analysis of undergraduate medical curriculum to find out how much health promotion knowledge was included is important for improvement. Objectives of this study were to analyze contents of health promotion in undergraduate medical curriculum of Thammasat Medical School, compare with other Thai medical schools, and compare with Thai Medical Councilûs medical professional standard. Results showed that World Federation for Medical Education and Thai Medical Council have standard for health promotion integrating into medical curriculum. Health promotion contents in Thammasat medical curriculum were limited in holistic heath care courses and some courses in preclinical years. Clinical course guideline did not show specific details regarding health promotion contents. In conclusion, health promotion contents are as important as basic medical and clinical sciences. Health promotion contents could be integrated into all preclinical and clinical courses. This will provide medical students to care patients as whole persons and also take care of their families and community.

Key words : health promotion, medical curriculum, medical education, Thailand