Integrating Research and Teaching in Medical Education: Challenges, Strategies, and Implications for Healthcare

Abstract

Introduction: The integration of research and teaching in medical education offers numerous benefits, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills in students. Institutions worldwide have recognized the significance of this nexus and have implemented initiatives to link teaching with disciplinebased research, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. This article aims to explore the challenges and recommendations for integrating research and teaching in medical schools and provide recommendations to overcome these challenges.Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature to identify the common challenges faced by medical institutions in integrating research and teaching. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and Google Scholar databases were searched to assess the literature that met the study objectives with explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. We also examined successfulstrategies employed by some institutions to promote researchteaching integration. Results: The challenges identified include limited resources, the need to balance research and curriculum requirements, and the importance of cultivating a research-oriented institutionalculture. Successful strategies involve curriculum updates, faculty motivation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Implementing strategies involve vertically and horizontally integrating researchmethodology throughout the undergraduate curriculum and crossintegrating traditional medical courses with other disciplines. Collaboration between universities, enterprises, and schools canenhance comprehensive cooperation.Conclusion: To create a research-oriented learning environment, medical institutions should address these challenges and implement effective strategies. This approach will not only nurture researchoriented healthcare professionals but also advance medical knowledge for the benefit of patient care. By addressing these challenges and implementing appropriate strategies, medicalinstitutions can create a research-oriented learning environment, nurturing research-oriented healthcare professionals and advancing medical knowledge to improve patient care.

Keywords

• integration
• research
• medical
• education
• teaching