Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinical experiences: A narrative review of curricula and educational interventions.
Cara Vernacchia, Elizabeth Brown, Priya Mhatre and 1 others
PMID 39268970WHAT IT FOUND
Physiatry clerkships help students learn musculoskeletal exams and disability care, but virtual options fall short on hands-on skills.
No consensus exists on the best way to teach these topics.
Key findings
01Students improved musculoskeletal exam skills during physiatry clerkships, but virtual rotations cannot replace in-person training for physical exams and procedures.
02There is no published consensus or guidelines on the optimal way to teach clinical skills relating to the field of PM&R.
03Medical students who complete physiatry clerkships report increased knowledge and confidence in caring for people with disabilities, integrating this learning into other clinical experiences.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review, not a systematic review or meta-analysis, so it does not provide pooled effect sizes or a comprehensive map of all available evidence. The included studies were heterogeneous in design, duration, and outcome measures, making direct comparisons difficult. The review focuses on medical student education, not on patient outcomes or the effectiveness of clinical interventions delivered by therapists.
Declared interests
The authors have no competing interests for financial benefits.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that virtual rehabilitation training is effective for developing physical examination or procedural skills. The review explicitly states that virtual clerkships remain inferior to traditional clerkships for these hands-on competencies.