System of actions for the development of research skills in medical students

Abstract

The way in which universities train their future researchers determines their long-term professional retention and contributes to increasing a country's scientific potential. This study aims to propose a system of actions that integrates curricular and extracurricular activities for the development of research skills in medical students, responding to the demands of a society that requires high standards of research and clinical practice. A pedagogical research study was conducted at the Dr. José Assef Yara Faculty of Medical Sciences in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, between January 2023 and June 2024. Theoretical methods (analytical-synthetic, historical-logical, inductive-deductive, systemic-structural-functional, and hypothetical-deductive) and empirical methods (observation, document analysis, surveys, focus groups, and expert consultation) were applied, complemented by statistical analyses (Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Kendall's concordance coefficient). The results revealed deficiencies in current research training, and the relevance and feasibility of the proposed system were confirmed using the nominal group technique. It is concluded that the systematic integration of curricular and extracurricular activities, along with teacher training, is essential to enhance the research capacity of future physicians.