Promoting research competence in psychosocial medicine - A new curriculum for medical students

The objective of this study is the introduction and evaluation of a new graduate-students curriculum to enhance research competence in psychosocial medicine. N = 57 students have participated in the curriculum to date. All participants completed questionnaires regarding teaching quality and pre-post changes in subjective research competence. All items on teaching quality were scored significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to data of three other comparable psychosocial seminars. In addition, a substantial increase in subjective research competence was found (p < 0.05). The presented curriculum provides an opportunity to strengthen research competence and evidence-based critical thinking of prospective physicians at an early stage. As a consequence of these encouraging results, the curriculum has been implemented permanently at the medical faculty in Heidelberg.