Medical research and audit skills training for undergraduates: an international analysis and student-focused needs assessment

2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (1107) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Academic Qualification ◽  
Research Competencies

IntroductionInterpreting, performing and applying research is a key part of evidence-based medical practice, however, incorporating these within curricula is challenging. This study aimed to explore current provision of research skills training within medical school curricula, provide a student-focused needs assessment and prioritise research competencies.MethodsA international, cross-sectional survey of final year UK and Irish medical students was disseminated at each participating university. The questionnaire investigated research experience, and confidence in the Medical Education in Europe (MEDINE) 2 consensus survey research competencies.ResultsFully completed responses were received from 521 final year medical students from 32 medical schools (43.4% male, mean age 24.3 years). Of these, 55.3% had an additional academic qualification (49.5% Bachelor’s degree), and 38.8% had been a named author on an academic publication. Considering audit and research opportunities and teaching experience, 47.2% reported no formal audit training compared with 27.1% who reported no formal research training. As part of their medical school course, 53.4% had not performed an audit, compared with 29.9% who had not participated in any clinical or basic science research. Nearly a quarter of those who had participated in research reported doing so outside of their medical degree course. Low confidence areas included selecting and performing the appropriate statistical test, selecting the appropriate research method, and critical appraisal. Following adjustment, several factors were associated with increased confidence including previous clinical research experience (OR 4.21, 2.66 to 6.81, P<0.001), additional degrees (OR 2.34, 1.47 to 3.75, P<0.001), and male gender (OR 1.90, 1.25 to 2.09, P=0.003). Factors associated with an increase in perceived opportunities included formal research training in the curriculum (OR 1.66, 1.12 to 2.46, P=0.012), audit skills training in the curriculum (OR 1.52, 1.03 to 2.26, P= 0.036) and research methods taught in a student selected component (OR 1.75, 1.21 to 2.54, P=0.003).DiscussionNearly one-third of students lacked formal training on undertaking research, and half of students lacked formal audit training and opportunities to undertake audit as part of their medical school course. The presence of research training in the cirriculum was associated with an increase in perceived opportunities to participate in MEDINE2 research competencies. Female gender and a lack of previous research experience were significant factors influencing confidence and participation in research.

scholarly journals Motivating Factors of and Perceived Barriers to Research at a Canadian Medical University with Regional Campuses: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Leigh ◽  
Maroof Khalid ◽  
Jennifer Tsang
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Regional Campuses

Introduction Research training programs are an integral part of a well-rounded medical education. These programs help students contribute to medical knowledge, develop skills in critical evaluation and research dissemination, and they facilitate the training of our future medical researchers. Existing literature suggests barriers including lack of available time and access to projects may hinder a medical student’s research training. These barriers likely differ based on the medical school curriculum, and there exists limited data looking at these attitudes in Canadian students, students outside large academic centers or those in condensed programs. Given this, our study aims to further explore medical students' perceptions, perceived barriers of research in a three-year Canadian undergraduate medical school with regional campuses.   Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of medical students (classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021) representing the main and regional campuses of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine in Ontario, Canada to explore their attitudes towards research. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participant demographics, research background and attitudes towards research.   Results Overall, 70.4% of students identified as being involved in a research project at some point during their medical school tenure. Motivating factors for research participation included the goal of obtaining a residency spot (63.0%), and interest in their research topic (74.7%). Barriers to research included perceived lack of available time (31.5%), and difficulty in finding a research project (44.5%). Perceived curriculum deficiencies included lack of education in research methodology and appraisal of scientific literature (93.2% and 89.0%, respectively). Lastly, regional campuses tended conduct their research outside of their home campus (43.6% vs 3.3%, p<0.0001).   Conclusion The findings from our study highlighted the students’ attitudes towards research in a Canadian medical school that has multiple campuses and a shortened medical curriculum (3-year). It identifies potential areas of improvement from a student perspective, which can hopefully be utilized by medical educators to continue the improvement of medical trainee research training.

Communication skills training for medical students: is it fashion or urgent need? (Literary review and teaching experience)

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
L.V. Sakhno ◽  
V.I. Orel ◽  
I.V. Koltuntseva ◽  
A.G. Rykachevskaya ◽  
T.V. Mishkina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training

scholarly journals Association of academic stress with sleeping difficulties in medical students of a Pakistani medical school: a cross sectional survey

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Spogmai Khan ◽  
Waqar Sharif ◽  
Uzma Khalid ◽  
Asad Ali
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Academic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Should Research Thesis be a Prerequisite for Doctor of Medicine Degree? A Cross-sectional Study at Jordan University of Science and Technology

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisha Gharaibeh ◽  
Yazan S. Mousa
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
P Value ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Analysis Of Means

Background: University based research is an integral part of many prestigious medical schools worldwide. The benefits of student-conducted research have long been highlighted in the literature. This article aims to identify the insights of medical students concerning research training, including perceived hurdles in the way of conducting research, and the utility of a research thesis in acquiring a Doctor of Medicine degree. Methods: A total of 808 medical students at Jordan University of Science and Technology were selected by random sampling with a confidence level of 95%. A survey was constructed by a group of students through literature review and group discussions. The survey utilized polar and Likert scale questions to collect data from the students. Statistical inferences were then obtained through analysis of means and one sample t-test of the hypothesis. Results: A total of 687 students filled out the survey (85%). Analysis shows that respondents have a strong and positive attitude towards research. The respondents with past research experience constituted 14.3% of those surveyed. Those respondents identified the barriers faced by them during their experience. The students showed high degree of agreement that a research thesis should be a prerequisite for graduation with statistical significance of p-value ≤0.05. Conclusion: Modifying the curriculum to include research methodology is recommended, and developing it to incorporate a thesis as a requirement for graduation may be advised upon further review.

scholarly journals What do medical students know about e-cigarettes? A cross-sectional survey from one U.S. medical school

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Hinderaker ◽  
David V. Power ◽  
Sharon Allen ◽  
Ellen Parker ◽  
Kolawole Okuyemi
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Stigma and Attitudes towards Psychiatric Patients in Portuguese Medical Students

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo Telles-Correia ◽  
João Gama Marques ◽  
João Gramaça ◽  
Daniel Sampaio
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychiatric Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> This study aims to assess the impact of psychiatric education on attitudes of medical students towards psychiatric patients.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional survey of medical students was conducted at the biggest Portuguese medical school. The students completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire, including sociodemographic data, family history of psychiatric illness, and the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill scale.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> Of the 2 178 students, 398 answered the survey, representing 18.2% of the whole medical school. There was a significant improvement in all Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill scale dimensions along the medical course. The higher scores were in Restrictiveness subscale (38.01), and the lower scores were for Authoritarianism (36.13). The best improvement along the course was for Authoritarianism (5th year score - 1st year score = 2.03), and the worse was for Benevolence (5th year score - 1st year score = 0.39). The biggest improvement, in all scores, was found at the end of the 3rd year.<br /><strong>Discussion: </strong>The authors propose that the better attitudes found on third year students were due to a very specific anti-stigma module on the theoretical discipline ‘Introduction to Mental Health’. After that, this positive effect was lost, with fourth and fifth year medical students showing a worsening of their attitudes.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Our results highlight the importance of anti-stigma specific education modules in order to improve students’ attitudes toward mental health. Thus more anti-stigma preventive measures can be taken onward, on preparing the best way possible, the next generation of doctors.</p>

scholarly journals The experiences, attitudes and understanding of research amongst medical students at an Australian medical school

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaidyn Muhandiramge ◽  
Tony Vu ◽  
Megan J. Wallace ◽  
Eva Segelov
Keyword(s):  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Student Research ◽  
Medical Student Research ◽  
Based Medicine

Abstract Background Research engagement plays an integral role in developing clinicians that practice effective, evidence-based medicine. Research participation by clinicians, however, is declining. Given the link between research during medical school and future research output, promotion of medical student research is one avenue by which this shortage can be addressed. Student research attitudes and participation in Australia are not well-documented in the literature. This study therefore aims to investigate research practices, motivators, and barriers amongst Australian medical students in order to determine whether there is a need for further integration of research within Australian medical school curriculums. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to explore research experience and attitudes, as well as the enablers and barriers to research amongst students enrolled in all years of the five-year medical course at Monash University. A questionnaire was created by combining questions from several surveys on medical student research and comprised Likert scales, multiple choice options and free-text responses assessing research experience, attitudes, motivators, and barriers. Results Seven hundred and four respondents (69.4% female; survey response rate 36.7%) reported variable research experience and interest. Less than half of the cohort (n = 296; 44.9%) had contributed to a research project. Increasing employability for specialty training programs was the primary motivating factor (n = 345; 51.9%) for pursuing research, with only 20.5% (n = 136) citing an interest in academia as a motivator. Time constraints (n = 460; 65.3%) and uncertainty surrounding how to find research opportunities (n = 449; 63.8%) were the most common barriers to research. Conclusions Medical students at Monash University are interested in but have limited experience with research. Students are, however, primarily motivated by the prospect of increasing employability for specialist training; medical schools should therefore focus on encouraging intrinsic motivation for pursuing research. Greater integration of research education and opportunities within medical school curricula may also be required to provide students with the skills necessary to both pursue research and practice evidence-based medicine.

scholarly journals The effect of Humanitude care methodology on improving empathy: a six-year longitudinal study of medical students in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Fukuyasu ◽  
Hitomi U. Kataoka ◽  
Miwako Honda ◽  
Toshihide Iwase ◽  
Hiroko Ogawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Medical Interview ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Sustained Effect ◽  
Medical Interviews ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Background Empathy, which involves understanding another person’s experiences and concerns, is an important component for developing physicians’ overall competence. This longitudinal study was designed to test the hypothesis that medical students’ empathy can be enhanced and sustained by Humanitude Care Methodology, which focuses on perception, emotion and speech. Methods This six-year longitudinal observational study examined 115 students who entered Okayama University Medical School in 2013. The study participants were exposed to two empathy-enhancing programs: (1) a communication skills training program (involving medical interviews) and (2) a Humanitude training program aimed at enhancing their empathy. They completed the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) seven times: when they entered medical school, before participation in the first program (medical interview), immediately after the first program, before the second program (Humanitude exercise), immediately after the second program, and in the 5th and 6th year (last year) of medical school. A total of 79 students (69% of the cohort) completed all seven test administrations of the JSE. Results The mean JSE scores improved significantly after participation in the medical interview program (p < 0.01) and the Humanitude training program (p = 0.001). However, neither program showed a sustained effect. Conclusions The Humanitude training program as well as medical interview training program, had significant short-term positive effects for improving empathy among medical students. Additional reinforcements may be necessary for a long-term sustained effect.

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