Research-related attitudes among Chinese medicine students at a Canadian college: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that American Chinese medicine students’ research interest declines as their training progresses. Many students further express low confidence in the congruence (‘model validity’) of bioscientific research methods in relation to the Chinese medicine paradigm. However, prior research has not assessed the impacts of research-related coursework on student perspectives in this regard.MethodsFirst-, second- and third-year Chinese medicine students were surveyed regarding their research-related views. Final year students were re-surveyed after completing the research course. Qualitative analyses of the participating students’ coursework were also undertaken.ResultsOver 80% of all participants showed high research interest and engagement, and viewed research as both relevant to clinical practice and important for the profession’s socioeconomic legitimation. Male students were significantly more likely to view scientific evidence as improving the quality of Chinese medicine care (p = 0.021). A view that conventional research methods have low model validity for Chinese medicine interventions was higher among third year students than those in their first or second years of study (p = 0.001). Research coursework appeared to increase self-assessed research interest and skill. Concern regarding model validity was strongly evident in student coursework.ConclusionResearch-related curricular interventions in the Chinese medicine field should directly address model validity, as it is of significant interest to a majority of students.

Survey Analysis to Determine the Impact of Evidence Informed Practice Education upon Faculty Clinical Instruction and East Asian Medicine Student’s Skills, Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors

“…This same trend was seen in the study of Canadian East Asian medicine students where their perception of the importance of research did not diminish after taking a 30-hour research literacy course. 29 This contrasts with the prior studies, 26,28 which showed that student's perception of the importance of research to their clinical practice declined as they progressed through their training. An important difference between these studies is that in this study the perceived importance of research skills and knowledge was assessed before and after a single course over the period of a few months, whereas the previous studies 26,28 assessed changes throughout a degree program over three to four years.…”

“…28 A more recent study of Canadian East Asian medicine students in an undergraduate diploma program did not show declines in research interest through the three years of their training. 29 However, this and the US studies, all showed that students had concerns about the appropriateness of scienti c research models for investigating East Asian medicine (model validity). Such concerns stem from the recognition of paradigm and epistemological differences between East Asian medicine and biomedicine.…”

“…Due to the recognition of the limitations of the randomized placebo-controlled trial to accurately inform effectiveness in the real-world, different research models have been developed. These include pragmatic clinical trial models, 10 comparative effectiveness methodology, whole systems research, 29 and mixed methods. In addition, outcome measures beyond those focused on the condition under investigation, such as quality of life measures, are now routinely used.…”

“…Such concerns stem from the recognition of paradigm and epistemological differences between East Asian medicine and biomedicine. 6,18,29,30,31 As part of this project the perspectives of Paci c College faculty and experienced acupuncturists about research and EBM were investigated and reported in two previous publications -a quantitative survey, 26 and a later qualitative study. 18 Similar to students, faculty expressed concerns about model validity due to paradigm differences and the relevancy of research to clinical practice.…”

Developing, Integrating, and Implementing Evidence-Informed Practice Curricula Throughout a Chinese Medicine Degree Program

“…A similar approach was used to develop a research course for students at a Canadian Chinese medicine college. 31 The course included writing a case study using standardized (CARE) 19 guidelines, which imparted skills for students to engage in their own research. Case writing was also utilized as part of faculty research training at NESA.…”