Systematic review and meta-analysis as a structured platform for teaching principles of experimentation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Research Methodology
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• The internet age necessitates students developing skills to discern reliable research from undependable information.
• Understanding clinical trial design, ethics, and history is crucial for evaluating research quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess an educational exercise focused on good research practice through a systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA).
• To enable students to quantitatively explore how variations in experimental research practices impact study dependability.

Main Methods:

• Students conducted a structured literature search and used an eligibility matrix to analyze clinical trial design, ethics, and methodology.
• Data extraction facilitated the creation of forest plots (aggregated effect size, confidence range, heterogeneity) and funnel plots to assess study bias.
• The SRMA exercise was implemented across three academic cohorts for assessment.

Main Results:

• The SRMA exercise resulted in a normally distributed grade profile across cohorts.
• Students who struggled with conventional assignments engaged successfully with the systematic nature of the SRMA assessment.
• Students using the SRMA format for capstone projects achieved higher grades than their previous academic year average.

Conclusions:

• The systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) exercise effectively teaches students critical appraisal of clinical trial research.
• SRMA provides a practical method for students to understand the influence of research practices on study outcomes and dependability.
• This approach supports diverse learning styles and enhances students' engagement with research methodology.