Learning by doing: developing fellows' academic skills through collaborative research.
Physicians in postgraduate training are expected to learn research methods but how best to achieve that curricular goal is unclear. This article describes a novel educational approach to develop research skills among infectious disease fellows. Five infectious disease fellows and two faculty members participated in a collaborative research project as a vehicle for active, problem-based learning. During the learning experience several tasks with specific learning objectives were achieved. The authors evaluated the weaknesses and strengths of the collaborative research project as an educational program. This problem-based approach for learning research methods seems more effective than traditional methods and may be applicable to a broad range of training programs.
Madariaga
Miguel G
MG
John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, USA. migmad@worldnet.att.net
Evans
Arthur T
AT
Brobbey
Wahab
W
Phillips
Martin
M
Lo
Evelyn
E
Rezai
Katayoun
K
Schwartz
David N
DN
Trenholme
Gordon M
GM
Weinstein
Robert A
RA
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007087:Illinois; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*; D012107:Research Design