Call to Publish in an Undergraduate Medical Course: Dissemination of the Final-Year Research Project.

PROBLEM: Today's medical doctors must not only have the clinical skills to treat patients effectively but also keep current with new advances in medicine and critically analyze evidence to choose the best treatments and explain the risks and benefits of different options. In this article, we aim to share the approach taken at a Portuguese medical school to promote a close connection between research and learning. INTERVENTION: In a blended-learning approach, students studied research and scientific methods and undertook one of three faculty-supervised research and dissemination projects. To support immediate application of new research knowledge, students were offered optional short lectures and problem sets. All course information was featured on a website that also supported a discussion forum. We analyzed 1,350 theses leading to the medical degree, defended in six consecutive academic years (2007-2013). Our aim was to estimate the publication rates and factors associated with publication of the final-year undergraduate research projects. CONTEXT: The present research curriculum was developed at the University of Porto Faculty of Medicine as part of the Bologna process curriculum implemented in the 2007-2008 academic year. From May to June 2014 we looked for corresponding articles published over the period of September 2007 to April 2014. We searched PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, and IndexRMP databases to locate publications resulting from student theses. OUTCOMES: Over 6 years, the diffusion of knowledge produced by medical students, who engaged in clinical practice concurrently with research projects, was fairly low (10.4%). Program modifications that increased student accountability and engagement allowed for an increased rate of publication from 1.0% to 23.9%. Factors associated with publication were research area, publication as a performance assessment criterion, and publication language. LESSONS LEARNED: The results of this study suggest that it is helpful to provide research opportunities that allow aspiring future medical doctors to begin their research careers. Further research is needed to understand difficulties students and supervisors face in project development and to achieve greater balance in topic coverage among projects and, consequently, in departmental involvement in the program.

Student perspectives of imaging anatomy in undergraduate medical education.

Radiological imaging is gaining relevance in the acquisition of competencies in clinical anatomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of medical students on teaching/learning of imaging anatomy as an integrated part of anatomical education. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate the perceptions of second-year students participating in a clinical anatomy course over three consecutive academic years. A principal component analysis was used to evaluate the dimensionality of the questionnaire. The variables were summarized using frequencies, mean, median, 25th percentile, 75th percentile, minimum, and maximum. The results demonstrated that students felt the teaching of imaging anatomy influenced learning in the clinical anatomy course (mean = 4.5, median = 5.0) and subsequent clinical courses (mean = 4.4, median = 4.0). Regarding the imaging techniques used in the demonstration of anatomical structures, computed tomography (median = 5.0) and magnetic resonance imaging (median = 5.0) were highly rated. Students suggested the use of additional support material (37.6%) and favored a more practical approach. In conclusion, the results of this work highlight the value of imaging anatomy in learning human anatomy. Students' comments pointed out a need to focus teaching/learning programs toward a more practical rather than theoretical approach as well as a need to provide a better fit between sectional anatomy and clinical cases using imaging anatomy. In order to provide an optimal learning environment to students, it also seems important to create improved media material as an additional resource tool.

Opção pelo curso de Medicina em Angola: o caso da Universidade Agostinho Neto / Choosing medical school in Angola: the case of Agostinho Neto University

O presente trabalho pretende: (i) identificar os motivos que conduzem os jovens a optar pelo curso de Medicina na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Agostinho Neto (FMUAN); (ii) identificar como é percebida a profissão médica; (iii) determinar se existe influência das características sociodemográficas sobre os fatores identificados como determinantes que os orientam para a pretensão de ser médico. O estudo contou com uma amostra de 1.815 candidatos (96,2 por cento). Os dados recolhidos correspondem a uma amostra obtida por intermédio de inquéritos de opinião. Os candidatos identificaram como principais razões de opção pelo curso de Medicina as seguintes: Altruísmo (mediana = 87,5); Vocação (mediana = 81,3); Influência Familiar (mediana = 75,0); Prestígio Social (mediana = 75,0); Interesse Científico (mediana = 68,7); Pessoas na Família Exercendo a Profissão (mediana = 62,5); Mercado de Trabalho (mediana = 50,0). Não consideraram como razões de opção pelo curso: Benefício Econômico (mediana = 45,0), Sucesso (mediana = 43,8) e os Problemas de Saúde na Família (mediana = 37,5). Podemos concluir que os candidatos ao curso de Medicina se distinguem pela dedicação aos outros e pelo compromisso com as pessoas, constituindo a Vocação e o Altruísmo as principais forças impulsionadoras da opção pelo curso.

This study aimed to (i) identify the reasons leading young people to choose to study medicine at the Agostinho Neto University School of Medicine (FMUAN) in Angola; (ii) identify how they perceive the medical profession; and (iii) determine whether socio-demographic characteristics influence the factors identified as determinants in the applicants' decision to pursue the medical career. The study involved a sample of 1,815 medical school applicants (96.2 percent). The data came from a sample obtained through opinion polls. The applicants' main reasons for choosing medicine were: altruism (median = 87.5), vocation (median = 81.3), family influence (median = 75.0), social prestige (median = 75.0), scientific interest (median = 68.7), family members in the medical profession (median = 62.5), and work market (median = 50.0). Less important factors were: economic/financial benefit (median = 45.0), success (median = 43.8), and health problems in the family (median = 37.5). The study concludes that medical school applicants in Angola are characterized by dedication and commitment to others, with vocation and altruism as the key drivers in their career choice.