Ursula Russell, Ruth McNair, Kelsey Hegarty, Marian Evans
The issues of Gender and its influences on medical care and practice have been gaining increasing credence over the last few years internationally. The University of Melbourne has introduced to its teaching program a learning experience in gender issues for 5th year undergraduate general practice students, which explores with students the influence of gender on medical care and medical practice. At the end of their 4-weeks of general practice placements the students meet in a rural centre and are facilitated by Rural GP's. Innovative teaching tools have been adopted, including literature tasks, and case based discussions known as "gender collisions". Evaluation embraces format, content and delivery as well as interest in this area of study. In 2001 240 students will have experienced this program across 9 rural centres, employing 18 rural practitioner tutors, making it one of the largest rural teaching endeavors by the university. It is well understood that Gender issues play a substantial role in recruiting a sustainable workforce in rural areas; active discussion of these influences in undergraduate years may have a substantial influence in supporting a future workforce of doctors in rural areas. The importance of gender issues and its place in curriculum is a topic that will be of great concern to medical educators planning future initiatives in this area and this evaluation is likely to support the inclusion of gender issues as a legitimate topic of study for undergraduates in general practice. The evaluation of the program will form the basis of the presentation.