ERIC Number: EJ1069966
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
EISSN: N/A
Scientific Skills as Core Competences in Medical Education: What Do Medical Students Think?
Ribeiro, Laura; Severo, Milton; Pereira, Margarida; Ferreira, Maria Amélia
International Journal of Science Education, v37 n12 p1875-1885 2015
Background: Scientific excellence is one of the most fundamental underpinnings of medical education and its relevance is unquestionable. To be involved in research activities enhances students' critical thinking and problem-solving capacities, which are mandatory competences for new achievements in patient care and consequently to the improvement of clinical practice. Purposes: This work aimed to study the relevance given by Portuguese medical students to a core of scientific skills, and their judgment about their own ability to execute those skills. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on students attending the first, fourth and sixth years of medical course in the same period. An assessment instrument, exploring the importance given by Portuguese medical students to scientific skills in high school, to clinical practice and to their own ability to execute them, was designed, adapted and applied specifically to this study. Results: Students' perceptions were associated with gender, academic year, previous participation in research activities, positive and negative attitudes toward science, research integration into the curriculum and motivation to undertake research. The viewpoint of medical students about the relevance of scientific skills overall, and the ability to execute them, was independently associated with motivation to be enrolled in research. Conclusions: These findings have meaningful implications in medical education regarding the inclusion of a structural research program in the medical curriculum. Students should be aware that clinical practice would greatly benefit from the enrollment in research activities. By developing a solid scientific literacy future physicians will be able to apply new knowledge in patient care.
Descriptors: Science Process Skills, Competence, Medical Education, Medical Students, High Schools, Student Attitudes, Attitude Measures, Gender Differences, Student Research, Scientific Attitudes, Science Curriculum, Student Motivation, Questionnaires, Statistical Analysis, Correlation, Scores, Writing Skills, Communication Skills, Search Strategies, Information Literacy, Language Proficiency, English (Second Language), Data Analysis, Foreign Countries, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Time Management
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Portugal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A