title: Undergraduate medical academic performance is improved by scientific training.
abstract: The effect of scientific training on course learning in undergraduates is still controversial. In this study, we investigated the academic performance of undergraduate students with and without scientific training. The results show that scientific training improves students' test scores in general medical courses, such as biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, and even English. We classified scientific training into four levels. We found that literature reading could significantly improve students' test scores in general courses. Students who received scientific training carried out experiments more effectively and published articles performed better than their untrained counterparts in biochemistry and molecular biology examinations. The questionnaire survey demonstrated that the trained students were more confident of their course learning, and displayed more interest, motivation and capability in course learning. In summary, undergraduate academic performance is improved by scientific training. Our findings shed light on the novel strategies in the management of undergraduate education in the medical school. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(5):379-384, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.|Division of Distance and Continuing Education in Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Distance and Continuing Education in Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Distance and Continuing Education in Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Distance and Continuing Education in Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Zhongming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Administration in Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Division of Distance and Continuing Education in Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Xingguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Division of Distance and Continuing Education in Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yushan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Training Department, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Guoxiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Hongming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miao
mesh_terms: D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Scientific training; biochemistry and molecular biology; course learning; undergraduate