Can teaching research methodology influence students' attitude toward science? Cohort study and nonrandomized trial in a single medical school
| Autor: | Dario Sambunjak, Ivana Vodopivec, Ana Vujaklija, Darko Hren, Ana Marušić, Matko Marušić, Ana Ivaniš |
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| Rok vydání: | 2010 |
| Předmět: |
Longitudinal study
Students Medical moral reasoning medical students Croatia Science education Affect (psychology) Science education General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology law.invention Cohort Studies Randomized controlled trial law Surveys and Questionnaires Medicine Humans Longitudinal Studies Schools Medical Academic year business.industry Research Attendance General Medicine Attitude Cohort business Cohort study Clinical psychology Education Medical Undergraduate |
| Zdroj: | ResearcherID |
| ISSN: | 1708-8267 |
| Popis: | Background Medical teaching aims to develop attitudes and behaviors underlying professional competence of future physicians. We investigated whether a mandatory course on scientific methodology in the second study year could affect students' attitudes toward science in medicine. Method In a longitudinal study, students (n = 241) enrolling in 2001-2002 academic year at a single medical school were followed up until graduation in 2006-2007. Each year, they filled out a Likert-type questionnaire of 18 statements evaluating attitude toward science. Direct influence of the course on students' attitudes was tested in a nonrandomized controlled trial with the 2006-2007 second year student cohort. Results Positive students' attitudes toward science increased during study years (mean [SD] score of the maximum score of 90): from 57.6 (6.0) in the first to 69.8 (10.4) in the sixth year. There was a significant trend of increase in attitudes with the years of study (cubic trend by polynomial contrasts analysis, P = 0.011). Attendance of a course on research methodology significantly increased positive attitudes (score, 67.0 [7.0] before and 70.8 [7.5] after course, P = 0.032 vs control group), regardless of grade point average. The intervention had an effect even when the influence of the initial attitude was accounted for (F1,140 = 9.25, P = 0.003; analysis of covariance). The attitude changes after the course was greatest in students with low initial attitude scores (Spearman rinitial score, score difference, −0.44). Conclusions Medical students have positive attitudes toward science and scientific method in medicine. Attendance of a course on research methodology had positive short-term effect on students' attitudes toward science. This positive effect should be maintained by vertical integration of the course in the medical curriculum. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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