Training interns in population-based research: learners' feedback from 13 consecutive batches from a medical school in India.
OBJECTIVE
To document learners' feedback on an educational intervention to provide interns with a hands-on learning experience in population-based research.


METHODS
Cross-sectional inquiry using a structured tool.


METHODS
A medical school in India.


METHODS
306 interns from 13 consecutive groups in a 3-month posting.


METHODS
Interns' participatory involvement in each of the nine units of learning.


RESULTS
In six out of the total of nine units of learning, nearly 70% of the students rated their participatory involvement at 3 points or above (on a 5-point rating scale). This rating was 4 or 5 (good or maximal) for 50% or more students with regard to identification of research questions, review of literature, data analysis and interpretation, and for 65.4% students in data collection. However, in the last two units, on writing the research report and its presentation, a large proportion of students rated their participatory involvement as minimal or unsatisfactory (38.9% and 46.4%, respectively). For 91.2% of students, this was the first hands-on experience of any type of population-based research. When the students were asked to identify the most important factor which hampered learning during the present exposure, 54.2% of them reported that it was the unsuitable timing of the exposure, since their priority during internship was the entrance examination for postgraduate courses.


CONCLUSIONS
This study empirically demonstrates that with some extra effort from teachers, interns can be exposed to a hands-on learning experience in population-based research, on a systematic basis, without additional resources.
Chaturvedi
S
S
Department of Community Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
Aggarwal
O P
OP
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003154:Community Medicine / Q000193:education*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards