Structured Online Systematic Review Training for Medical Students: An Elective Module in Physiology

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Learning Technologies
• Research Methodology Training

Background:

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced elective postings in India's undergraduate competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum.
• Successful implementation requires significant time commitment from medical teachers (facilitators).
• This study evaluated online teaching-learning for an elective module at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of online teaching-learning methods for an elective module.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of an online systematic review training module for undergraduate medical students.
• To gather student feedback and program evaluation data using the Kirkpatrick model.

Main Methods:

• An online module on systematic review methods was developed using the Delphi method.
• 30 undergraduate medical students were trained in small groups, each facilitated by a resident and a faculty member.
• Student feedback and program evaluation were collected after the 15-day elective program.

Main Results:

• All 30 participating students successfully completed a systematic review within their groups.
• Student feedback was 86.33% positive, with 84% positive opinion on project evaluation.
• Highest scores were for understanding and facilitator knowledge; lowest for immediate applicability.

Conclusions:

• Online systematic review training modules are viable for elective medical education, especially with time/resource constraints.
• Students valued the module's clarity, complexity, and facilitator expertise, noting improvements in communication and critical thinking.
• Online learning can supplement traditional methods, addressing logistical challenges in medical education.