Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27129494›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2016

Exploring the value and role of integrated supportive science courses in the reformed medical curriculum iMED: a mixed methods study.

Sophie Eisenbarth, Thomas Tilling, Eva Lueerss, Jelka Meyer, Susanne Sehner, Andreas H Guse, Jennifer Guse Nee Kurré

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. The Hamburg integrated medical degree program iMED.GMS journal for medical education · 2019
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sophie EisenbarthDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Thomas TillingDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Eva LueerssDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Jelka MeyerDean's Office of Education and Students' Affairs, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Susanne SehnerDepartment of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Andreas H GuseDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany.
Jennifer Guse Nee KurréDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany. j.guse@uke.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHeterogeneous basic science knowledge of medical students is an important challenge for medical education. In this study, the authors aimed at exploring the value and role of integrated supportive science (ISS) courses as a novel approach to address this challenge and to promote learning basic science concepts in medical education. ISS courses were embedded in a reformed medical curriculum.

methodsThe authors used a mixed methods approach including four focus groups involving ISS course lecturers and students (two each), and five surveys of one student cohort covering the results of regular student evaluations including the ISS courses across one study year. They conducted their study at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between December 2013 and July 2014.

resultsFourteen first-year medical students and thirteen ISS course lecturers participated in the focus groups. The authors identified several themes focused on the temporal integration of ISS courses into the medical curriculum, the integration of ISS course contents into core curriculum contents, the value and role of ISS courses, and the courses' setting and atmosphere. The integrated course concept was positively accepted by both groups, with participants suggesting that it promotes retention of basic science knowledge. Values and roles identified by focus group participants included promotion of basic understanding of science concepts, integration of foundational and applied learning, and maximization of students' engagement and motivation. Building close links between ISS course contents and the core curriculum appeared to be crucial. Survey results confirmed qualitative findings regarding students' satisfaction, with some courses still requiring optimization.

conclusionsIntegration of supportive basic science courses, traditionally rather part of premedical education, into the medical curriculum appears to be a feasible strategy to improve medical students' understanding of basic science concepts and to increase their motivation and engagement.

Indexed as

CurriculumEducation, MedicalSystems IntegrationAdolescentAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelBiological Science DisciplinesCohort StudiesEducational MeasurementFemaleFocus GroupsGermanyHumansMaleYoung AdultCurriculum reformIntegrationMedical educationScience education

Identifiers

PMID27129494
PMCPMC4851779

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.