Evaluating the Significance of Implementing Experience-Based Clinical and Public Health Training in Medical Education Systems to Overcome the Curricular-Practice Gap in Tertiary Healthcare Settings

Background Clinical skills are often prioritized in medical education; however, it is essential to incorporate public health training as trainees' knowledge and practices vary according to their training and experience. The study was designed to evaluate the significance of implementing experience-based clinical and public health training in medical education systems to overcome the curricular-practice gap in tertiary healthcare settings. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between April 2025 and July 2025 involving 250 trainees, mainly final-year students (n=100), interns (n=80), and residents (n=70). A structured, self-administered Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) questionnaire was used to assess public health knowledge, attitude towards the integration into clinical practice, and self-report practices. Demographics and prior exposure to public health or health campaigns were also recorded. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square tests were used to compare KAP scores, while Pearson correlation was used to test the relationship between KAP domains, training level, and exposure. Results Interns and residents scored higher in terms of KAP than final year students (p<0.05). Adequate level of knowledge, positive attitudes, and active engagement were found in 162 (64.8%), 178 (71.2%), and 154 (61.6%) of the participants, respectively. The KAP domains showed strong positive correlations (r=0.580.66; p<0.001), and higher scores were substantially correlated with prior exposure to public health and campaign participation (p<0.05). Conclusion The degree of clinical training and exposure to public health had a significant impact on trainees' KAP. Integrating experience-based public health training into medical education systems can potentially overcome the curricular-practice gap in public health.