The most relevant SEM-related topics
The key findings of this study are that MSK examination skills, exercise to prevent and manage disease, and MSK injuries and conditions are deemed to be the most important SEM-related topics to teach to undergraduates. Social media use and pitchside care were deemed the least important. This survey is the first to determine how important it is that specific SEM-related topics are taught to medical students. The findings of this study are important because they will determine how best we move forward in terms of the education we provide to undergraduate level.
The majority of research thus far around incorporating SEM into medical curricula has been focused on exercise medicine.12 Aside from exercise medicine, as far as the research team is aware, there are no SEM-focused resources aimed at the level of medical students. In addition, there is no SEM syllabus for medical students and new clinicians outlining what SEM they should know for their level in training.
Being an SEM doctor- more than being pitchside
The difference of opinion between juniors and senior clinicians in the topics of working as a team doctor and pitchside care is of particular interest.
It is a controversial topic within the SEM community that SEM doctors only work with elite athletes and sports teams, and the importance of highlighting that SEM is much more broad than this has been highlighted previously.
3,13 Anecdotally, the authors acknowledge that the MSK medicine and exercise medicine aspects of SEM are often over-looked by those with limited experience of the specialty. Arguably these are the aspects of SEM that can best be utilised in a number of different specialties throughout the NHS. It may therefore be valuable for students and new clinicians to have some knowledge of SEM that will be valuable in a variety of different clinical settings.
The benefits of more SEM education
The survey findings suggest that students and clinicians of all grades are of the opinion that medical students would benefit from having more exposure the SEM during medical school, an opinion expressed previously.14–16 However, there is limited data supporting this theory, which is an important finding of this study.
In addition, this study found that seniors believe increased SEM teaching would be beneficial for all students, not just those interested in pursuing a career in SEM.
There are potentially several reasons for this. Firstly, the lack of exposure to SEM results in a lack of awareness of what is involved in SEM, including its place in health service provision.
17 A lack of awareness of the specialty of SEM has been demonstrated among the medical profession.
18,19 This may mean that SEM NHS services are not being utilised due to lack of awareness of these services existing, resulting in patients not benefitting from referrals to SEM departments.
Secondly, inactivity is a significant risk factor for disability and death and to combat this as a society promoting physical activity as a form of medicine is of paramount importance.20 If we are encouraging more people to be active, it follows that more people will suffer from sports-related injuries. We need our doctors of the future to be prepared and confident to deal with the MSK injuries that will potentially increase as a result of this. Furthermore, aspects of the SEM curriculum are applicable in many parts of medicine.21 For example, both exercise and musculoskeletal medicine are relevant in General Practice, whilst exercise physiology is important in Anaesthetics.
Strengths and Limitations
This survey is the first to determine how important it is that specific SEM-related topics are taught to medical students. Views were collated from individuals in a variety of stages in their career in order to compare differences between sub-groups.
A limitation of this study is that most participants have an existing interest in SEM.
The majority of participants were working in, or interested in working in, SEM and therefore are potentially bias towards feeling more SEM exposure would be of benefit.
Further research should aim to gain opinions of non-SEM doctors, and students and juniors not interested in pursuing SEM, to establish how applicable SEM skills and knowledge is to the wider medical profession.
Furthermore, as the survey was shared on social media, a response rate cannot be calculated.