Correspondence Address:
Dr. Premanath Fakirayya Kotur
Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Puducherry - 603 402
India

Full Text

Dear Editor,

I endorse the views expressed in the editorial on promoting research for undergraduates of medicine in India.[1] Research is essential for the growth and development of any science including the medical science. It is indeed a paradox that such an important component has not been given adequate weightage in the long awaited and a major educational reform that has been carried out for the first time after our national independence. Ability to be a researcher is still not considered a mandatory competence or an attribute of the Indian Medical Graduate, as rightly pointed out by the editorialist.

No doubt, the instinct to undertake research, if identified and nurtured in the early part of medical training will definitely have a better impact creating a medical researcher later in life. Training in research starting from the 1st year as a continuous thread throughout the entire MBBS course is a very good suggestion. However, its inclusion in the attitude, ethics, and communication skills (AETCOM) module might appear to be totally out of place. Other modes of sensitizing and training undergraduate students in research may be more acceptable.

The new MBBS program visualizes the student as a future scholar, specialist, researcher, and scientist as per the general model for evaluating researchers 2019. An opportunity for the students to explore, discover, and experience research by choosing an elective, has already been created. This 2-month slot for electives can be utilised by students to diversify their experience and get stimulated toward research. Module no. 6 of the new curriculum explicitly mentions that successful completion of the electives is necessary to appear for the final summative examination. The explicit objective as spelt out is – to do research/community projects that will stimulate enquiry, self-directed, experiential learning, and lateral thinking.[2]

In this regard, institutions need to look beyond the traditional boundaries to create the opportunities for the students to get oriented toward research. We suggest some of the measures which have been found out be effective by us in promoting research at the undergraduate level.

Conducting research methodology workshops for the undergraduates has led to a definite improvement in the number of accepted Indian Council of Medical Research - Short-Term Studentship (ICMR-STS) research grant projects in our institution.Training in the principles and practice of evidence-based medicine, not only impregnates the students with the idea of critical thinking, but also teaches them how to translate research into practice.[3],[4]Celebrating national science day involving undergraduate students in various activities such as research quiz, debate competitions, and essay writing competitions.Under the guidance of a preceptor, students to be encouraged to complete funded (e.g., ICMR-STS, institutional grant etc.,) or unfunded research projects.Offering research-related electives by the institutions for the students to choose.

All the above said activities will, no doubt, allow the students get a glimpse of future career as a researcher.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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