Abstract Details

Title Combatting “Neurophobia”: A Proposed Preliminary Educational Model to Promote “Neurophilia”

Topic Education, Research, and Methodology

Presentation(s) P10 - Poster Session 10 (11:45 AM-12:45 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 7-003

Background When we reflect on medical education as a whole, novelty in structure and content promotes growth and enhances student outcomes. The teaching of neurology is no different and presents a more unique hurdle in its instruction considering the well-described phenomenon of “neurophobia”. With the burden of neurological diseases on the rise, there is a heightened demand on medical educators to understand the possible causes of this educational misalignment and implement solutions necessary to ensure adequate education of students.

Objective How can we promote neurology education to undergraduate medical students considering the educational phenomenon of "neurophobia"? We hypothesize that by utilizing a unique neurology curriculum for preclinical year (2nd year) students, we can increase student performance and favorability towards the specialty of neurology.

Design/Methods We describe a novel approach to neurology education for 2nd year medical students to stimulate "neurophilia", incorporating evidence-based approaches within identified areas to combat "neurophobia"—Active Learning Pedagogies, Diagnostic and Clinical Reasoning, Use of Technology, Field Exposure and Mentorship, and Innovation.

Results Students demonstrated superior academic performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) neurology assessments, and general positive feedback to the use of the innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

Conclusions

Overall, we propose this method of teaching neurology as a successful model educational platform that incorporates the areas needed to reduce “neurophobia” and promote “neurophilia”.

Authors/Disclosures
Richard I. Suarez PRESENTER	Mr. Suarez has nothing to disclose.
Jenny Fortun (Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Florida International University)	No disclosure on file