Creating a sport and exercise medicine undergraduate syllabus: a delphi study

Background Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is a growing speciality in the United Kingdom (UK). This growth has
not been replicated in SEM teaching at an undergraduate level and SEM-related topics in schools of medicine in the
UK are under-represented. As SEM continues to develop as a specialty it is important to consider how it is embedded
at all levels of training. The aim of this project was to establish a consensus on SEM-related skills and knowledge
relevant for undergraduate medical students in the UK, ultimately creating a curriculum of learning objectives (LOs).
Methods A modified Delphi survey was utilised to seek consensus on LOs suitable for incorporation into UK medical
school curricula. An expert panel with adequate knowledge in the field was recruited. The initial curriculum was
created by the research team using already established postgraduate SEM curricula. All learning objectives were
sent to the expert panel for opinions in phases. Levels of agreement and comments made by the expert panel were
reviewed after each phase until a consensus on each learning objective was made.
Results The expert panel was made up of 45 individuals, with 35 also completing phase 2 (78% retention rate). The
initial curriculum contained 58 learning objectives separated into 9 themes. In phase 1 31% (18/58) were accepted
outright, 48% (28/58) were altered and 19% (11/58) were rejected. Two additional learning objectives were added. Of
the 49 LOs included in phase 2, 98% (48/49) were accepted. The final curriculum was made up of 9 sub-themes and
48 LOs.
Conclusion Sport and Exercise Medicine is a broad ranging and rapidly growing speciality. It is important to establish
SEM education in all levels of medical education, including undergraduate level. This is the first published version of a
Delphi SEM curriculum for undergraduate medical teaching.
Keywords Medical education, Sport and exercise medicine, Undergraduate.