Clinical training in venereology in the United States and Canada

Abstract

Of the 127 medical schools in the United States and Canada surveyed, 69 had no hospital- or health department-based sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic available for teaching, 87 offered no clinical training to students, and 96 offered no hours to residents. In the United States, even when training was offered, only 30% of students and 45% of residents participated, receiving an average of six and 12 hours of instruction, respectively. Instruction in venereology in US medical schools seems to have declined in the last 15 years, despite a sharply rising incidence and the enlarging spectrum of STDs. The National Conference of Preventing Disease-Promoting Health has recommended that, by 1990, all medical schools establish a clinical affiliation with public or private STD treatment facilities so that all medical students and physicians in training will receive a minimum of 20 hours of supervised clinical experience. This study underscores the appropriateness and urgency of that recommendation.