Building Research Capacity of Medical Students and Health Professionals in Rural Communities: Leveraging a Rural Clinical School's Resources to Conduct Research Skills Workshops

The paper reports on a project where the objective was for the Rural Clinical School, The University of Queensland, Australia, to design an acceptable model of research skills workshops for medical students and rural health professionals. Eight, interactive research skills workshops focused on skill development were conducted in rural Queensland, and attended by 62 undergraduate medical students and rural health professionals. The workshop learning objectives were to: provide an understanding of research methods and practise some basic research skills; and develop a greater understanding of the research process. Of the 53 participants who provided evaluations, more than two-thirds agreed that the learning objectives were met, and although health professionals evaluated the workshops most highly, two-thirds of the medical students also agreed. Consistent with the positive quantitative evaluations, participants reported valuing the knowledge acquired in the workshops, combined with the teaching methods. The study demonstrated that an interactive, skills-based workshop was an acceptable model for the medical students and rural health professionals who participated, and that better health outcomes for rural Australians could ultimately result from leveraging a Rural Clinical School's resources to increase research capacity through this approach.