Publishing in Academic Medicine Michael Whitcomb, MD Senior Vice President for Medical Education & Editor in Chief, Academic Medicine

Academic Medicine Publishes papers addressing medical education topics and contemporary issues affecting the conduct of the education, research, and clinical care missions of medical schools and teaching hospitals. Only 20% of submitted manuscripts are ultimately accepted for publication.

Medical Education Scholarship (ala Boyer) Foundational studies Intervention studies Descriptions of innovative interventions Reviews of education topics Commentaries

Medical Education Research How do individuals learn medicine? (cognitive psychology) How can the learning of medicine be enhanced? (educational interventions) How should the learning of medicine be measured? (assessment methodologies)

Medical Education Research Step One – The Question Be clear about the question you want to address Be sure the question is important – that is, one worth addressing Be sure the question can be answered in a meaningful way

Medical Education Research Step Two – Project Design Select the right study population Select the proper research methodology Select the right outcome to measure

Medical Education Research Step Three – The Results Determining the results Reporting the results Interpreting the results Presenting the meaning of the results

Medical Education Research Intervention Studies: For What Purpose? The purpose of medical education is to educate doctors so that they are capable of providing high quality medical care. Shouldnt the purpose of intervention studies be to demonstrate that a particular intervention contributes to that purpose?

Medical Education Research Intervention Studies:Which Outcomes Should be Measured? The learners response to the intervention An increase in the learners knowledge A change in the learners behaviors An improvement in the care provided by the learners

Medical Education Research Intervention Studies: The State of Things UGME – impossible to show affect on clinical outcomes produced by graduates GME – no data showing affect on clinical outcomes produced by program graduates CME – very little data showing any affect on clinical outcomes produced by practitioners

Medical Education Research Intervention Studies:The Future Focus on important questions Proper project design Selection of developmentally appropriate outcome measures Multi-institutional studies

Medical Education Scholarship Foundational studies Intervention studies Descriptions of innovative interventions Reviews of education topics Commentaries