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Step 1: Problem Identification and General Needs Assessment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
The first stage in Kern’s six-step model is problem identification and a general needs assessment� The essential aim of a curriculum in medical education is to prepare learners to address a problem that affects the health of a specific population� To accurately identify the problem, one should consider two guiding questions: whom does the problem affect? And what does the problem affect? To answer the first question, one should examine a variety of
factors including the impact on patients, health care professionals, medical educators, and society� 12 Secondly, how does the problem affect clinical outcomes, quality of life and health care, resource utilization, and societal function? For example, a toxicology fellowship may help improve the care of poisoned patients� Once a problem has been adequately defined, one can begin the general needs assessment� The purpose of the general needs assessment is to determine the gaps between current and desired or ideal conditions� 12 When starting a new fellowship, it is essential to investigate other local fellowships as well as similar fellowships at other institutions� For example, when implementing a global health fellowship, begin with a systematic review of all information available about existing global health fellowships� The information can be obtained from medical literature, accreditation organizations, professional organizations, as well as consultations with experts in the field� After completing a thorough review of the current body of knowledge, gather new information to gain a better understanding of what should be included in the ideal global health fellowship� Information gathering and data collection can be obtained by several methods such as the use of surveys, focus groups, and the Delphi method to obtain consensus on best practices for the fellowship’s curriculum� In this example, the goal of the general needs assessment is to understand the differences between current practices and desired practices for global health fellowships�
