Required vs. Elective Research and In-Depth Scholarship Programs in the Medical Student Curriculum

Abstract

The ability to understand and integrate new knowledge into clinical practice is a necessary quality of good physicians. Student participation in in-depth scholarship could enhance this skill in physicians while also creating a larger cadre of physician-scientists prepared to advance the field of medicine. However, because no definitive data exist demonstrating that in-depth scholarship in medical school leads to improved patient care or to productive academic careers, whether such scholarship should be required as part of the medical school curriculum is unclear. In this article, the authors present both sides of this debate. Theoretical benefits to students of a required scholarly program include closer mentorship by individual faculty, enhanced capabilities in critical interpretation of research findings, and increased confidence to investigate conundrums encountered in clinical care. Society may also benefit by having physicians available to create and apply new knowledge related to biomedicine. These theoretical benefits must be balanced, however, by pragmatic considerations of required scholarly projects including their impact on medical school applications, their effect on the medical curriculum, their costs, the availability of mentors, and their effects on the school's educational culture.

Student Scientific Inquiry in the Core Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum: Critical Issues in Designing and Implementing a Student Research Program

“…A required school-wide student research program is demanding in terms of resources, and full awareness of potential benefits and challenges is essential. While such programs have multiple potential educational benefits (short term and intermediate outcomes), the evidence that student research alone translates into improved patient care is still lacking 27 . Thus, the decision to require or not to require a research project for all students in a Pharm.D.…”

“…Moreover, previous experiences have shown that while highly enthusiastic, only few students seem to have the confidence and the ability to choose and maintain a research area early in their training 27,41,40 . Other challenges include difficulties in resolving a poor faculty-student match, midway changes of interest and the challenge to manage multiple academic demands, especially during the didactic courses of the initial years.…”

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

“…Likewise, in addition to being able to solve clinical problems, students must work as researchers to enable them to be leaders in the healthcare community. 16 To achieve this goal, a curriculum supported by educational programs that help students develop critical analysis, resolve problems and manage people is fundamental.…”

Should Research be Made Compulsory in Medical School?

“…Also, different universities have different courses regarding to research activities in the United States [9][10][11].…”