title: Call to Publish in an Undergraduate Medical Course: Dissemination of the Final-Year Research Project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Simulation and Medical Education , Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal and Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Joselina Maria Pinto
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: a Department of Simulation and Medical Education , Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal and Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Sónia Isabel Costa
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: a Department of Simulation and Medical Education , Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal and Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Amélia Duarte
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D011643:Publishing; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical
keywords: Medical students; higher education; publishing; scientific training; undergraduate research project