ArticleBMC medical education2018
The importance of scientific competencies in German medical curricula - the student perspective.
Article in BMC medical education, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers.
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Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed.
- Can positive expectations help to improve the learning of risk literacy? A cluster-randomized study in undergraduate medical students.BMC medical education · 2022Trial
- Scientific education in German medical schools: nationwide cross-sectional study reveals student needs and gaps.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- The impact of exposure to scientific research and inclusive mentoring style on medical undergraduates' perceptions of critical thinking, communication, and passion.Medical education online · 2025Article
- Imparting the core competencies of a scientific scholar through a week-long focused course: a pre-post study in Swiss undergraduate medical students.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Undergraduate medical students' perspectives on research education and their confidence in research skills: a cross-sectional study from Palestine.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Study Habits in Medical Education: Examining How German Medical Students Study Using a Cross-sectional Mixed-Methods Survey.Medical science educator · 2025Article
- Attitudes toward and perceptions of barriers to research among medical students in the context of an educational and motivational strategy.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Undergraduate scientific education and the decline of postgraduate medical researchers in Germany? A perspective discussion and review of the literature.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Do We Need More Structured MD Thesis Programs? A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of the Research Program at the Medical Faculty Dresden.Medical science educator · 2024Article
- Team-, case-, lecture- and evidence-based learning in medical postgraduates training.BMC medical education · 2024Article
- Scientific competence during medical education - insights from a cross-sectional study at a German Medical School.BMC medical education · 2024Article
- Medical Students' Opinion of Their Learning Process.Medical science educator · 2023Article
- Factors affecting the scientific research ability and the corresponding countermeasures in clinical postgraduates.BMC medical education · 2023Article
- Do German university medical centres promote robust and transparent research? A cross-sectional study of institutional policies.Health research policy and systems · 2022Article
- Predictors of Medical Students' Views toward Research: Insights from a Cross-Cultural Study among Portuguese-Speaking Countries.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Undergraduate research in medicine: A summary of the evidence on problems, solutions and outcomes.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2022Review
- Article
- Practical guide for the use of medical evidence in scientific publication: Recommendations for the medical student: Narrative review.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2021Review
- Portuguese Medical Students' Interest for Science and Research Declines after Freshman Year.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Research training program in a Turkish medical school: challenges, barriers and opportunities from the perspectives of the students and faculty members.BMC medical education · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundScientific competencies are of great importance for physicians; not only for conducting reliable research, but also for patient care. However, there is growing concern that a lack of scientific competencies among physicians may lead to a deterioration in the quality on biomedical research. This study aims at assessing medical students' perspectives on the implementation of scientific competency training in German medical curricula.
methodsAn online survey was conducted in order to collect German medical students' opinions on the importance of acquiring scientific competencies during their medical studies and to provide us with an assessment of their current levels of basic scientific competencies by having them conduct a self-evaluation. Moreover, we wanted to understand their perceptions of current curricular content and to receive suggestions for improving scientific competency training. Participants were reached via the mailing lists of the German Medical Students' Association, as well as of local medical student committees, and the German Medical Students' Associations social media channel on Facebook.
resultsIn total, 2380 medical students from across all 37 German medical faculties participated in the survey. The majority of students agreed that the ability to critically evaluate the relevant literature is an important competency for physicians, and that every student should conduct a research project during their medical studies. However, the students evaluated their scientific competencies as unsatisfactory, especially with regard to statistics and scientific writing. They were strongly in favor of receiving extended research training.
conclusionOur study provides insight into German medical students' self-perception in relation to both patient care and biomedical research, and makes recommendations for potential improvements in scientific training. The study demonstrates that scientific competencies are of great importance to medical students in Germany. Students are not lacking motivation for scientific practice and have numerous ideas for enhancing scientific teaching opportunities. Scientific training should follow a holistic approach based on three pillars: (i) a scientific core curriculum, (ii) intracurricular research projects, and (iii) special research programs for students strongly interested in medical research.
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