Venus and Freud: an educational opportunity?

OBJECTIVE To discuss the importance of genitourinary medicine as a core component for a new problem based medical undergraduate curriculum and to describe the advantages of consensus group method as a means of identifying learning objectives for an integrated course. METHODS A group of experts in the field of sexual health was convened around the module on sexual health. It was led by a genitourinary specialist and aided by a curriculum facilitator. Group contributors represented a wide variety of disciplines and included a medical student. The group met on three occasions for 1.5 hours. RESULTS The identified learning objectives are presented under the course themes. The values and relevance of the individual objectives are discussed with particular reference to an integrated curriculum which combines clinical and basic science in a problem based learning (PBL) format. The communication skills and attitudes necessary to take a competent sexual history are stressed. Links with other relevant modules in the PBL curriculum are described to show how the topic of sexual health develops throughout the course. Learning methods, resources and assessment procedures are also outlined. CONCLUSION The educational potential of sexual health and behaviour as a core topic for a novel integrated course is considerable and merits a greater importance than it appears to receive in current undergraduate courses.