Bisrat Hailemeskel
Howard University, USA
Title: Integrating research training strategies to enhance scientific writing and publications among students in a professional program
Biography
Biography: Bisrat Hailemeskel
Abstract
The aim of this study was to enhance scientific writing and increase the number of research publications by students in a professional program by incorporating research training strategies into a drug information course. The study spanned over a period of three years (2019-2022) and included 123 students, with an average of 41 students per year. The majority of the students were females (n=83; 67%) almost all students (n=116; 94.3%) had at least a BA/BSc degree before joining the professional program. When surveyed about their prior work experience, over 95% (n=40; 98%) reported having worked before joining the pharmacy program, with more than two-thirds (n=80; 65%) having at least 2 years of work experience. Among them, approximately one-third (n=43; 35%) reported working in a pharmacy. The results showed that incorporating research methodology in the course was an effective strategy to promote scientific writing among students. Before the intervention in 2019, there were only two publications by students. However, after the research training strategies were implemented, the number of publications increased by 20-fold, with the highest publication number seen in 2021 (n=24; 54%). The total number of students who authored publications also increased by 8-fold (n=2, 18, 24, and 15 for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively). In conclusion, we found integrating research methodology into a drug information course to be an effective strategy to promote scientific writing skills and enhance the number of research publications among students in a professional program.