Longitudinal Educational Achievement and Development Study (Leads): A Protocol for a Prospective Study Assessing Medical Students’ Competencies Publisher Pubmed



Ebrahimi N ; Khademrezaiyan M ; Rasouliankasrineh M ; Rajaee P ; Meshkat Z ; Kianifar H ; Jafari M ; Moradi E ; Sadabadi F ; Ghavami H ; Kimiafar K ; Alamdaran SA
Source: BMJ Open Published:2025

Abstract

Background Longitudinal studies provide insights into the outcomes of medical training curriculum. However, few educational cohort studies have been conducted in Iran. This study aims first to evaluate the impact of the current curriculum on medical students' medium- and long-term academic and career outcomes and, second, to identify medical students' characteristics and how they change through the doctor of medicine programme. Methods and analysis This protocol outlines a multi-phase, prospective cohort study that will take place in Mashhad, Iran. The study will implement the Kirkpatrick model, investigating medical students' knowledge, skills, behaviour and professionalism development over 10 years. Approximately 1000 medical students will be recruited through peer invitations and social networks. Data will be collected through baseline and follow-up questionnaires, academic performance records and comprehensive test scores throughout the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme. The data from the questionnaires will be reported using a Likert scale. Quantitative data will be described using means and SD, while qualitative variables will be presented as frequencies and percentages. We will evaluate the relationship between quantitative variables using correlation coefficients and the relationship between qualitative variables via the χ2 or Fisher exact test. All tests will be two-sided, with a significance level set as p<0.05. Ethics and dissemination All participants will complete written informed consent before data collection. All students can withdraw from the study at any time with no consequences. Results of this study will be presented at relevant conferences and will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.