[Timing of the care internship in the medical curriculum; when should students make acquaintance with older patients?]

A care internship in the first year of medical school is an effective way to help students learn to reflect and to acquire professional behaviour. Research has shown, however, that the impressions young medical students have of older people were not very positive before the care internship, and actually worsen afterwards. The care internship has now been adapted as result of these findings and on the basis of evidence in existing literature. Scientific evaluation of educational programmes, and studying potential side effects, are necessary to keep the medical curriculum effective and appropriate.