ABSTRACT
This chapter summarises the key issues which have emerged from empirical studies on the effects of traditional medical education on students and which have contributed to the rationale for the revision of the medical curriculum with goals and objectives set out by the General Medical Council (GMC) in Tomorrow's Doctors. It focuses on factors intrinsic to the curriculum that have contributed to change and on the context and culture in which traditional medical education has been delivered. The chapter highlights the negative impact of the traditional medical curriculum, particularly in terms of the stress induced by the intensity and assessment of this learning package and the portrayal of the unsup-portive environment in which it is delivered. Recent studies have indicated favourable comparisons between the revised and traditional curricula, particularly in terms of learning styles and support given during this learning period. Any medical education, through its teaching, learning and assessment strategies, would ensure that the primary outcomes are achieved.
