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Learning outcomes from a biomedical research course for second year osteopathic medical students
des Anges Cruser1, Sarah K Brown, Jessica R Ingram
1University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, Texas, USA. desAnges.cruser@unthsc.edu.
Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care
|July 9, 2010
Summary
This study evaluated a basic biomedical research course for medical students. Second-year students showed improved understanding of research concepts, while first-year students did not, indicating the course
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- Predoctoral medical curricula often lack explicit research education, despite research competencies being crucial for physicians.
- This study addresses the integration of research competencies into medical education.
- It reports outcomes from the first year of a basic biomedical research course at a college of osteopathic medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the learning outcomes of an inaugural basic biomedical research course.
- To measure changes in medical students' applied understanding of research concepts.
Main Methods:
- A 24-hour classroom lecture course with web-based materials and faculty-moderated presentations.
- Pretests and posttests administered to assess understanding of research concepts.
- Comparison between second-year medical students taking the research course and first-year students taking an informatics course.
Main Results:
- 154 matched pretests and posttests were analyzed (56% of students).
- Second-year students demonstrated significant improvement in applied understanding of research concepts post-course.
- First-year students' scores decreased from pretest to posttest.
Conclusions:
- The biomedical research course appears effective in enhancing second-year students' applied understanding of research concepts.
- Outcome assessment aids in the course's quality improvement and understanding the benefits of research education.
- Future iterations may require adjustments in content, methods, and outcome measures for optimal clinical application by osteopathic medical students.
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