Teaching research methodology in medical schools: students' attitudes towards and knowledge about science

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between teaching scientific methodology in Year 2 of the medical curriculum and student attitudes towards and knowledge about science and scientific methodology.

Design: Anonymous questionnaire survey developed for this purpose.

Setting: Zagreb University School of Medicine, Croatia.

Participants: A total of 932 students (response rate 58%) from all 6 years were invited to participate.

Main outcome measures: Score on attitude scale with 45 Likert-type statements and score on knowledge test consisting of 8 multiple choice questions.

Results: The average attitude score for all students was 166 +/- 22 out of a maximum of 225, indicating a positive attitude towards science and scientific research. The students' average score on the knowledge test was 3.2 +/- 1.7 on 8 questions. Students who had finished Year 2 had the highest mean attitude (173 +/- 24) and knowledge (4.7 +/- 1.7) scores compared with other year groups (P < 0.001, anova and Tukey posthoc test). For students who had attended a mandatory Year 2 course on the principles of scientific research in medicine (Years 3 to 6), multiple linear regression analysis showed that knowledge test score (B = 3.4; SE = 0.4; 95% confidence interval 2.5-4.2; P < 0.001) and average grades (B = 7.6; SE = 1.5; 95% CI 4.6-10.6; P < 0.001) were significant predictors of attitude towards science, but not sex or failure to pass a year (B = - 0.6; SE = 1.7; 95% CI - 3.9-2.6; P = 0.707; and B = - 3.1; SE = 1.9; 95% CI - 6.8-5.7; P = 0.097, respectively).

Conclusion: Medical students have generally positive attitudes towards science and scientific research in medicine. Attendance of a course on research methodology is related to a positive attitude towards science.