Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39075437›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2024

The perceived relevance, utility and retention of basic sciences in general practice.

Faith O Alele, Francis A Albert, Emma Anderson, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Hannah Mason, Paula Heggarty, Aaron Hollins, Tarun Sen Gupta, Lawrie McArthur, Richard B Hays and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

11 authors.

Faith O AleleCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Francis A AlbertCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Emma AndersonCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Abdul-Aziz SeiduCollege of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Hannah MasonCollege of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Paula HeggartyCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Aaron HollinsCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Tarun Sen GuptaCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Lawrie McArthurDiscipline of General Practice, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
Richard B HaysCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Bunmi S Malau-AduliCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia. bunmi.malauaduli@newcastle.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBasic sciences are crucial for clinical medicine, yet studies focusing on their perceived utility among general practitioners (GPs) are sparse. Considering the broad scope of GPs' practice, an in-depth understanding of basic sciences is fundamental for making informed clinical decisions. This study evaluated GP registrars' retention and perceptions of the utility of basic sciences in clinical practice.

methodsUsing sequential explanatory mixed methods study design, knowledge retention was assessed by a multiple-choice question (MCQ) examination followed by interviews on the perception of the relevance and utility of basic sciences among GP registrars at James Cook University's (JCU) General Practice Training (GPT) program. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted on the MCQ exam data, while thematic analysis was employed for the qualitative interview data.

resultsSixty-one GP registrars participated in the MCQ exam, while 11 of them were involved in the interviews. The highest mean score was obtained in biochemistry (75.1 ± 2.23) while the lowest mean score was in anatomy (56.07 ± 3.16). Key performance predictors included the formative clinical examination scores (β = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.45 to 1.2, p < 0.001) and gender (β = -9.7, 95% CI: -17 to -2.3, p = 0.011). The qualitative data analysis revealed five themes, including the backbone of clinical medicine, varying utility over time and by specialty, clinical synthesis integrates encapsulated knowledge, professional pressures hinder revisitation of knowledge and knowledge renewal enhances updates.

conclusionBasic sciences were considered relevant in clinical practice. Development of continuing professional development (CPDs) sessions and clinically relevant online resources were measures proposed to enhance the retention of knowledge. Future research could focus on innovative educational strategies for GPs.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceGeneral PracticeAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelEducational MeasurementFemaleGeneral PractitionersHumansMaleQualitative ResearchBasic sciencesGeneral practitionersKnowledge retentionMedical educationPostgraduate medical traineesRelevance

Identifiers

PMID39075437
PMCPMC11285199

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.