One of the positive trends in medical education research is that it continues to show improvement in methodological strength¹ despite challenges to funding.² Examples can be found for medical education studies that exemplify rigorous standards for survey studies, observational studies, and randomized controlled trials. However, rather than determining the effects of education on action, studies tend to focus on more easily determined measures of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and the educational process.

JAMA continues its annual focus on this important topic with the next theme issue on medical education, which will be published September 6, 2006. We invite authors to submit manuscripts related to all aspects of the educational endeavor. As in recent years, we are interested in demonstrations of novel educational research methodologies that establish rigorous approaches to the unique challenges of conducting this type of research. Moreover, we are particularly seeking studies that either incorporate the most relevant educational outcomes or address better techniques for their measure. Examples are effects on physician or patient decision making, health care delivery, or health care quality—results of actions.

Previous topics have included the impact of changes in resident work hours on education, Internet-based education, funding medical education research, and cross-cultural care. While these remain of interest for this issue, other potential topics include (but are not limited to) the appropriate use of medical literature, effectiveness of training physicians to be teachers, successful models for providing incentives to faculty for teaching, professionalism and ethics, decreasing medical errors, and the use of interdisciplinary approaches to learning.

We will consider all original research papers, scholarly commentaries, and special communications addressing medical education, including randomized trials, high-quality observational studies, evidence-based reviews, and presentation of novel methodologies. The effects of medical education at the student, physician, patient, and societal level are all appropriate for consideration. As with all research published in JAMA, we are seeking studies that meet the highest standards for validity and generalizability; preference will be given to studies that include large sample sizes and multiple study sites.

Manuscripts received by March 15, 2006, will have the best chance for acceptance in this theme issue. All submitted manuscripts will undergo JAMA's usual rigorous editorial evaluation and review. Authors should consult the JAMA Instructions for Authors³ for guidelines on manuscript submission and preparation.

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Editorials represent the opinions of the authors and JAMA and not those of the American Medical Association.