Medical students’ attitudes towards science and involvement in research activities: A comparative study with students from a reformed and a traditional curriculum

Pruskil, Susanne; Burgwinkel, Philip; Georg, Werner; Keil, Thomas; Kiessling, Claudia

doi:10.1080/01421590802637925

Cited by 46 publications

(47 citation statements)

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“…Various ways to tackle the lack of a next generation of medical scientists have been discussed in the national literature [17], and a comparative study has shown that the design of the curriculum is associated with different levels of engagement with scientific methodology [18]. To our knowledge, this is the only survey across all German medical faculties regarding the medical students’ attitude towards scientific research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of scientific competencies in German medical curricula - the student perspective

2018

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BackgroundScientific competencies are of great importance for physicians; not only for conducting reliable research, but also for patient care. However, there is growing concern that a lack of scientific competencies among physicians may lead to a deterioration in the quality on biomedical research. This study aims at assessing medical students’ perspectives on the implementation of scientific competency training in German medical curricula.MethodsAn online survey was conducted in order to collect German medical students’ opinions on the importance of acquiring scientific competencies during their medical studies and to provide us with an assessment of their current levels of basic scientific competencies by having them conduct a self-evaluation. Moreover, we wanted to understand their perceptions of current curricular content and to receive suggestions for improving scientific competency training. Participants were reached via the mailing lists of the German Medical Students’ Association, as well as of local medical student committees, and the German Medical Students’ Associations social media channel on Facebook.ResultsIn total, 2380 medical students from across all 37 German medical faculties participated in the survey. The majority of students agreed that the ability to critically evaluate the relevant literature is an important competency for physicians, and that every student should conduct a research project during their medical studies. However, the students evaluated their scientific competencies as unsatisfactory, especially with regard to statistics and scientific writing. They were strongly in favor of receiving extended research training.ConclusionOur study provides insight into German medical students’ self-perception in relation to both patient care and biomedical research, and makes recommendations for potential improvements in scientific training. The study demonstrates that scientific competencies are of great importance to medical students in Germany. Students are not lacking motivation for scientific practice and have numerous ideas for enhancing scientific teaching opportunities. Scientific training should follow a holistic approach based on three pillars: (i) a scientific core curriculum, (ii) intracurricular research projects, and (iii) special research programs for students strongly interested in medical research.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12909-018-1257-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of scientific competencies in German medical curricula - the student perspective

2018

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“…In Charite´ University Medical Centre Berlin, Germany, Students from the problem based medical curriculum showed greater participation in research production and felt more confident in their scientific competencies than other students. 21 This is supported in this study as the PBL is one of the learning modalities in the endocrine module. Limitations of the study: Qualitative analysis of the students learning and experience of the reformed endocrine module through focus group was not conducted although it could add to the understanding of the increased satisfaction of the students.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

Effect of integrating research skills with basic sciences in an interdisciplinary integrated endocrine module on students’ satisfaction and performance

Alrefaie¹,

El-Deek²,

Ayuob³

2017

IJPER

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Background: A system-based integrated curriculum has been implemented at Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University since the academic year 2006/2007. There were many calls to increase the integration level and to integrate the scientific research skills into the medical curriculum. Objectives: This study aimed to document the steps taken to establish a higher level of integration of basic sciences along with the scientific research skills and to assess the effect of such changes on student satisfaction and performance. Methods: The integration level among the endocrine basic sciences was increased from the temporal co-ordination to the interdisciplinary level. Students' assessment methods were modified accordingly. Scientific research skills were incorporated into the module. Students' satisfaction and performance were compared before and after implementation of these changes. Results: A significant increase in students' satisfaction with the module organization was recorded. A significant increase in students' self-reported motivation to study the endocrine subject matter as well as improvement of their research skills was also reported compared to that of the students studied the module before the reform. The percentage of students got grade an after modular reform was significantly higher compared to those who studied the traditional module while the overall success rate showed non-significant increase. Conclusion: This interdisciplinary integrated endocrine module provides framework and tips for module construction that would improve critical thinking skills, research skill and prepare the students to be life-long learners.

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“…[9][10][11] In a globalized world, it is of particularly importance to produce students who can occupy leadership and management positions and work in teams and, above all, who are ready to take up political and administrative positions in the academic world.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, students are in general only required to be accountable for the results of their work and the consequences of these results during the final years of their course, a situation that naturally has an adverse effect on all those involved. 10 The learning space described here has brought medical school students closer to the daily lives and experiences of healthcare professionals, has required them to be accountable for their professional activities and has stimulated communication and results from the first semesters of their course. It is therefore difficult, in a project that combines basic and applied subjects with vocational practice, to ensure that healthcare measures are effective for the community.…”

Section: 13mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many medical students identified research as something remote, a misconception that can be explained by the lack of research activities in medical programs. 10 Putting students into a position in which they need to apply their acquired knowledge to day-to-day activities, while making reference to scientific articles and comparing results, favors development of critical thinking. Similarly, in a statement about the purpose of scenarios in physicians' development, Blank proposed a new paradigm for an integrated approach that would allow physicians to intervene in a health-disease process within the overall context of the process, while balancing technical issues with social and behavioral issues.…”

Section: 13mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leadership, management and teamwork learning through an extra-curricular project for medical students: descriptive study

Jorge¹,

Coelho²,

Paraizo

et al. 2014

Sao Paulo Med. J.

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CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Professionalism in medicine requires preparation for the globalized world.Our objective was to describe a project that introduces medical students to the community, hospital and laboratory activities, thereby allowing them to gain experience in people management, leadership and teamwork. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study of the process applied at a philanthropic medical school in Curitiba, Paraná. METHOD: Inclusion of management and leadership practices as part of the medical degree program. RESULTS:The study groups consisted of fifteen students. After six months, any of the participants could be elected as a subcoordinator, with responsibility for managing tasks and representing the team in hospital departments and the community. The activities required increasing levels of responsibility. In medical schools, students' involvement in practical activities is often limited to observation. They are not required to take responsibilities or to interact with other students and stakeholders. However, they will become accountable, which thus has an adverse effect on all involved. The learning space described here aims to fill this gap by bringing students closer to the daily lives and experiences of healthcare professionals. CONCLUSION: Being a physician requires not only management and leadership, but also transferrable competencies, communication and critical thinking. These attributes can be acquired through experience of teamwork, under qualified supervision from teaching staff. Students are thus expected to develop skills to deal with and resolve conflicts, learn to share leadership, prepare others to help and replace them, adopt an approach based on mutual responsibility and discuss their performance. RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:Profissionalismo na medicina requer formação para o mundo globalizado. Nosso objetivo é descrever um projeto que introduz os estudantes de medicina em atividades laboratoriais, comunitárias e hospitalares, oferecendo experiência em gestão de pessoas, liderança e trabalho em equipe. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo descritivo do processo aplicado a uma escola medica filantrópica de Curitiba, Paraná. MÉTODO: Inclusão de práticas de gestão e liderança como parte do programa de graduação médica. RESULTADOS: Os grupos de trabalho eram constituídos por 15 estudantes. Após seis meses de participação, o estudante podia ser eleito como subcoordenador, responsável por gerenciar tarefas e representar a equipe junto aos setores do hospital e na comunidade. Na faculdade de medicina, frequentemente, o envolvimento dos alunos em atividades práticas restringe-se à observação, não existem demandas sobre a sua responsabilidade ou sua interação com outros alunos e atores. Entretanto, serão cobrados por isso, resultando em efeito adverso sobre todos os envolvidos. O espaço de aprendizagem aqui descrito visa preencher essa lacuna, trazendo os alunos para mais perto do cotidiano e das experiências dos profissionais de saúde. CONCLUSÃO: Ser médico exige, ao lado de gestão e lider...

show abstract

Medical students’ attitudes towards science and involvement in research activities: A comparative study with students from a reformed and a traditional curriculum

Cited by 46 publications

References 9 publications

The importance of scientific competencies in German medical curricula - the student perspective

The importance of scientific competencies in German medical curricula - the student perspective

Effect of integrating research skills with basic sciences in an interdisciplinary integrated endocrine module on students’ satisfaction and performance

Leadership, management and teamwork learning through an extra-curricular project for medical students: descriptive study

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