ESTRATEGIA PARA EL PERFECCIONAMIENTO DE LA ACTIVIDAD CIENTÍFICA DE LOS ESTUDIANTES DE MEDICINA.

The present paper shows the results of an on-going pedagogical research project at Calixto García Medical School. It aimed at designing and applying a pedagogical strategy in this school to improve the scientific skills of medical students and residents. The project was based on the need to improve the quality of students' papers presented at their Scientific Conferences. To test the students' scientific skills, a pilot study was done by means of reviewing some students' papers and giving questionnaires. These instruments revealed the students' strengths and weaknesses in doing research. The study took into consideration the importance of research skills since the undergraduate level, so that future doctors can write better dissertation reports for specialization, master's programmes or PhD theses. The results of the study indicated that there is a need to improve students' scientific activity and to perform pedagogical interventions for a better training of both students and tutors. Consequently, a supplementary course on research methodology and paper writing was designed and taught at Calixto García School. Benefits were obviously obtained since students and residents from this school won the first place in the Havana Higher Institute of Medical Sciences (ISCM-H) Scientific Conference in the years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]