Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39891217›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2025

Perspectives of medicine, human biology, and nursing undergraduates on transversal skills learning: a mixed-methods study.

Nathalia Silva Fontana-Rosa, Luis González-de Paz, Ana C Codina-Rodríguez, María Pérez-Riart, María Del Mar Carrió-Llach

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Nathalia Silva Fontana-RosaCampus Docent Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVIC-UCC), Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain.
Luis González-de PazConsorci d'Atenció Primària de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain. gonzalezdepaz@hotmail.com.
Ana C Codina-RodríguezNursing Department, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
María Pérez-RiartNursing Department, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
María Del Mar Carrió-LlachInstitute of Educational Sciences, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

Erasmus+ KA203-46838294
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn health sciences practice, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and learning-to-learn are crucial transversal skills. Effective teaching necessitates the understanding of undergraduates' views. This study explored undergraduate experiences in human biology, medicine, and nursing degrees in learning transversal skills.

methodsAn exploratory sequential mixed method design with qualitative data collection and a subsequent online survey study. Three focus groups were conducted with third- and fourth-year undergraduates, and data were analyzed with thematic analysis. The online survey targeted undergraduate students from all academic years to address inconclusive details. Analysis entailed descriptive statistics, and associations differences in responses by degrees were analyzed using chi-square tests or Fisher's Exact Test.

resultsThirteen undergraduates participated in focus groups and 159 in the online survey. Three thematic areas emerged: the training received and its perceived relevance, the evaluation, and the learning methods. Undergraduates expressed that transversal skills were necessary for self-personal growth and professional development; however 50.7% reported not receiving specific training. Human biology and medicine undergraduates reported less training in critical thinking compared to nursing (29.03% and 32.7% vs. 76%, p < 0.001) and in interpersonal and relational skills (16.1% and 16.3% vs. 57%, p < 0.001). Subjectivity is an issue compared to traditional testing, with 39.6% of undergraduates reporting knowing the assessment methods of transversal skills and 56% trusting the preparation of teaching staff. >80% of undegraduate students wanted more participatory methodologies -from classroom methodology to problem-based assessments and simulation, while plenary lectures and gamification were less preferred.

conclusionHealth sciences undergraduates advocated for effectively integrating transversal skills in their programs. Nursing undergraduates showed higher satisfaction and expressed having experienced more transversal skills learning than human biology and medicine undergraduates. Undergraduates required educators to receive more support and training in adopting methodologies that facilitate transversal skill acquisition through changes in the assessment methods and substantive transformation of the program curricula.

Indexed as

BiologyEducation, Medical, UndergraduateLearningMedicineNursingSocial SkillsStudents, NursingFemaleHumansMaleProgram EvaluationYoung AdultAssessmentCritical thinkingHigher educationReal-world outcomesTransversal skills

Identifiers

PMID39891217
PMCPMC11786389

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.