Medical students' skills, attitudes, and behavior needed for literature reading

Skills, attitudes, confidence, and behavior needed for literature reading were studied in first- versus fourth-year medical students at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Questions on diagnostic test skills were used for comparison. Anonymous questionnaires were completed by 114 first-year and 84 fourth-year students. Fourth-year students read considerably more literature than first-year students, valued reviews over original research, and placed more value on the journal's reputation. They had greater confidence and objective knowledge than first-year students on diagnostic test skills but not greater confidence or objective knowledge on literature reading skills. Most dramatic was their "lower" willingness to admit uncertainty, even when taking into account their level of knowledge. Less willingness to admit uncertainty on the part of fourth-year medical students than first-year students may reflect medical education's emphasis on specific answers and its failure to teach students how to analyze data and draw conclusions. A need exists for specific training in literature reading skills with preevaluations and postevaluations of skills, attitudes, and behavior.