Data, Big and Small: Emerging Challenges to Medical Education Scholarship

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Educational Scholarship
• Data Science in Medicine

Background:

• Data collection and analysis are crucial for medical education and scholarship.
• Increasing data availability conflicts with growing regulatory, security, and participation challenges.
• These trends threaten the viability of medical education scholarship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify system-wide corrections for medical education scholarship's data challenges.
• To propose strategies for a more conducive data environment.
• To explore shifts in practice for data use and readiness.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of data collection and usage in medical education.
• Identification of five core areas for system-wide correction.
• Consideration of emerging practices like learning analytics.

Main Results:

• A growing need exists for a system-wide correction in data practices.
• Key areas for improvement include data clarity, collection methods, stewardship, and readiness.
• Practical and conceptual changes are needed to address regulatory challenges.

Conclusions:

• Medical education scholarship requires a more viable and productive data environment.
• Strategies include enhancing data clarity, collection, stewardship, and readiness.
• Engagement with learning analytics and the social contract for data use is essential.