title: Undergraduate Medical Education Research in Malaysia: Time for a Change.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Special Study Module (SSM) is a mandatory research module implemented in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The objective of this paper is to provide a brief overview on the student research activities and to find out the outcome measures in terms of publication.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a retrospective study done on SSM research projects at UKM. The SSM research is conducted from beginning of year-4 until 1(st) seven weeks of year-5. In year-4, students are assigned to a faculty-supervisor in small groups and spend every Thursday afternoon to plan and carry the research. Whole first seven weeks of year-5, students are placed with their supervisor continuously to collect data, do analysis, write report and present in the scientific conference. Outcomes of 5-years SSM research-projects starting from 2008/2009 to 2012/2013 academic session were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 257 projects were completed and presented in annual scientific meetings from which 57 (22.2%) articles were published in peer reviewed journals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandatory undergraduate student research project brings an opportunity to develop students' capacity building from conception to final report writing and thereby narrowing the gap between education and practice. Medical schools should implement research module to bring changes in research and publication culture of undergraduate medical education.
authors.affiliation: Abdus Salam, MBBS; MPH; PgDipMedEd; MMedEd. Associate Professor, Department of Medical Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salam
authors.affiliation: Jemaima Che Hamzah, MD; MS Opthal; PhD. Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jemaima Che
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hamzah
authors.affiliation: Tan Geok Chin, MBBS; MPath; AM; PhD. Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tan Geok
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Harlina Halizah Siraj, MD; MOG. Associate Professor, Department of Medical Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Harlina Halizah
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Siraj
authors.affiliation: Ruszymah Idrus, MD; PhD. Professor, Department of Physiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ruszymah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Idrus
authors.affiliation: Nabishah Mohamad, MD; PhD; PgDipMedEd. Professor of Physiology & Medical Edu and Deputy Dean (Undergraduate Studies and Alumni), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nabishah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohamad
authors.affiliation: Azman Ali Raymond, MBBS Hons.; MMed; MMed; MD; AM; FRCP. Professor of Medicine, Dean, and Director, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Azman Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Raymond
keywords: Malaysia; Medical education; Publication; Research; Undergraduate