Research as a pedagogical approach in undergraduate medical education

Background: The goals and attributes of undergraduate medical education (UGME) at Aga Khan University Medical College (AKUMC) emphasize on graduates’ ability to carry out basic research and equip them with basic tools which enable them to pursue career in research besides clinical, community health and management. In the UGME curriculum, research is a longitudinal theme to be carried throughout the five years. AKUMC is one of the few medical schools to have a designated research-based community health sciences (CHS) course in Year 4. However to inculcate this capacity and interest in the undergraduates, an Introduction to Research module was recently introduced in Year 2. This 4 week dedicated period provided students with an opportunity to undertake a programme of research in an aspect of medical sciences. The aim of this innovative module was to give students the intellectual tools to investigate new problems and evaluate data critically, rather than solve the problem entirely. Methods: For the Year 2 Research module, a total of 111 projects were designed by both basic science, clinical and CHS faculty members of which 97 projects were allocated to individual students based on their preference. The cognitive objectives of the module were achieved through interactive sessions on basic epidemiology and biostatistics, manuscript writing, review of literature and ethical principles of research. The skills objectives of the module were achieved through laboratory work, field-based clinical investigations and critical thinking workshop. Students were assessed through poster presentation, viva voce and a written report. Results and conclusions: The Year 2 Research module is a curricular innovation that encourages analytical and creative thinking and promotes a research culture among the students. It is a valuable addition to the undergraduate medical curriculum and along with the Year 4 CHS rotation, it serves to inculcate knowledge, skills and attitudes that are now necessary for medical graduates. Key words: Research, knowledge and skills, undergraduate medical education