Abstract

Background: Emergency medicine (EM) is a developing specialty worldwide. In Chile, it has been developing for 25 years, however, there is a need for further progress. Aim: We aimed to explore the current postgraduate curriculum in Chile and identify ways to standardise and improve it. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used to explore perspectives on EM curriculum development via interviewing residents, graduates and programme directors and documentary analysis of academic and governmental guidelines. Both data sets were evaluated through thematic analysis. Results: Four documents were analyzed, and eight interviews were conducted. Four main themes emerged: curricular structure, influence of context, expectations of an emergency physician, EM perspectives. Current programs focus on workplace learning and protected time for learning; however, they differ in clinical exposure and quality of training. Collaboration was identified as a priority, emphasizing the need for programs to work together to ensure quality. Conclusion: This study identifies the state of curriculum development of EM in Chile. It identifies similarities and differences between programs and areas for improvement. There is agreement on the need for a standardized curriculum, considering local context and societal needs.