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. 2024 Oct-Dec;14(4):239-245.
doi: 10.4103/ijabmr.ijabmr_219_24. Epub 2024 Nov 1.

Adapting a Longitudinal Structured Program to Enhance Research Skills in Undergraduate Medical Students: A Key Advancement in Competency-Based Medical Education

Tanvir Kaur Sidhu  1 , Rajiv Mahajan  2 , Varun Mohan Malhotra  1 , Shyam Mehra  1 , Gurkirat Singh  1 , Harshpreet Singh  1 , Jagriti Bhatia  1 , Gurmeet Singh  1 , Japneet Sidhu  1
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Adapting a Longitudinal Structured Program to Enhance Research Skills in Undergraduate Medical Students: A Key Advancement in Competency-Based Medical Education

Tanvir Kaur Sidhu et al. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2024 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Background: Abundant literature signifies the imperative role of evidence-based research in the health sector which underpins the importance of training medical graduates in research skills early in their medical journey. Low awareness, less knowledge, and minimal practical involvement of undergraduates (UGs) in research have been identified all over India. The lack of structured delivery of research curriculum in the UG period has been the basis of uptaking this project with the aim of developing research competency in medical UGs.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted as a participatory action research with a mixed-method approach in the department of community medicine at a medical college. A structured validated module was developed by the core committee and then pilot tested. The 5 years' journey through module development, pilot testing, longitudinal delivery, and then adapting it into a value-added course program at the university curriculum level was attempted.

Results: "UG Medical Research" has been adopted as value-added course in the curriculum of MBBS in the university. The research program is being run in a longitudinal structured manner with all MBBS UGs being trained using the "Module for UG Medical Research" module followed by research mentoring by faculty and subsequently academic scholarships in Electives Research Block 1. Interdisciplinary voluntary faculty pool has been created for research mentoring of UG students. The research environment of the institute has improved in terms of the increase in the number of research projects being carried out by UG students, Short Term Studentship (STS) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) research scholarships, conducting annual UG research exhibition/conferences in the campus, awards for best research works, and providing intramural research grant for UGs.

Conclusions: The longitudinal structured research program was successfully incorporated into the UG curriculum which enabled UG students to demonstrate acquisition of research competency.

Keywords: Competency-based medical education; medical undergraduates; research skills; structured longitudinal program.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Matrix used to plan the intervention to achieve desired outcomes
Figure 2
Figure 2
Thematic analysis of feedback
Figure 3
Figure 3
Program evaluation using Kirkpatrick’s model
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