General

• What does MSOD stand for?
  MSOD stands for the Medical Schools Outcomes Database and Longitudinal Tracking (MSOD) Project.
  

• What is the MSOD Project?
  The MSOD Project is a multi-site longitudinal project which involves research at all medical schools across Australia. The aim of the Project is to provide reliable data on medical programs, career intentions and decisions, and workforce planning.

  Medical students are invited to complete a survey when they commence their medical program (Commencing Medical Student Questionnaire), and also when they finish their program (Exit Questionnaire). Information on participants is also collected during their medical program from the medical school. Questionnaires are administered after graduation – currently there is a Postgraduate Year 1/Intern Questionnaire and a Postgraduate Year 3 Questionnaire, with plans for further surveys at Postgraduate Years 5 and 8.

• How long has the MSOD Project been running?
  The MSOD Project conducted a pilot study in 2004 on five medical schools, expanding its activities to include all medical schools in 2006. It has been running continuously since then. A schedule of collection of MSOD Questionnaires is available.

• How is the MSOD Project funded?
  The MSOD Project is funded by Health Workforce Australia (2011) and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2004-2011) .

• How is the MSOD Project governed?
  A diagram of the MSOD Project governance structure is available.  The Project is hosted by Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand in collaboration with eight stakholder organisations. There is an MSOD Board which oversees the management, strategic development and implementation of the Project; a Research and Scientific Advisory Committee which processes applications for access to data, maintains ethical obligations, and reviews Project methodology; and a Stakeholder Advisory Committee which provides advice and recommendations to the Board.
  

• What is the purpose of the MSOD Project?
  The Project aims to provide an effective, reliable source of data for assessing long-term outcomes of educational programs and for long-term medical workforce planning, as well as a robust resource for researchers. The Project also seeks to determine the effectiveness of targeted programs and interventions in terms of career decisions, and to promote strategic reform of medical education policy and programs at the university, state and Commonwealth levels.
  

• Where can I get more information about the MSOD Project?
  Please check the MSOD website. For further information or queries, please contact the MSOD Project team.
  

Data

• How many surveys are there in the MSOD Project?
  The MSOD Project currently conducts four surveys – the Commencing Medical Student Questionnaire administered at commencement of a medical program; the Exit Questionnaire administered in the final year of a medical program; the Postgraduate Year 1/Intern Questionnaire administered in the first postgraduate year; and the Postgraduate Year 3 Questionnaire administered in the third postgraduate year. There are plans to administer further surveys in the fifth and eighth postgraduate years.
  

• Can I access MSOD Questionnaires?
  Yes. Following the administration of each survey, a scanned copy is uploaded to the MSOD website.
  

• What are the MSOD variables?
  MSOD variables cover a range of demographic, educational and career intentions data. The full list of variables is available.
  

• If I want to do a project using the MSOD data what do I do?
  Please read the information provided on the MSOD website first. There are Policies and Procedures documents available for different types of research. If your research falls into one of these categories, complete the relevant Expression of Interest form. Please contact the MSOD Project team if you would like to discuss your research or have any queries..

  Access to MSOD data is managed by the MSOD Research and Scientific Advisory Committee.
  

• What use is made of the data collected by the MSOD Project?
  The data collected through the MSOD Project will be analysed to answer questions about numbers of medical students trained, the type and location of undergraduate and postgraduate training placements, how these experiences influence eventual career destinations and other questions associated with the demographic, educational and career intentions data. Analyses may be done by Medical Deans, government agencies or other researchers with the appropriate ethical clearance. Data analyses will be conducted using protocols that ensure strict privacy and security of the data and reports will never identify individuals.

  Publications by MSOD are available.
  

• How are MSOD Project outputs publicised?
  The MSOD Project team produces various publications to disseminate its findings. There are newsletters, data reports, journal articles and conference presentations. In addition to this, researchers who have used MSOD data often publish articles and reports. MSOD also holds workshops, and will hold its inaugural Research Forum in late 2011.
  

Participation

• What are the terms of participation?
  Participation in the MSOD Project is entirely voluntary. Individuals are asked to complete questionnaires at various points during the medical education continuum. No information on grades and academic record are collected at any time. Individual information is kept confidential and data is stored in a de identified form.

  All research conducted using MSOD data abides by strict privacy protocols and no individual is ever identified, or identifiable, in any resulting publication.
  

• How many participants does the MSOD Project have?
  The MSOD Project has achieved a very high participation rate. Thus far, approximately 95% of commencing medical students complete a Commencing Medical Students Questionnaire; approximately 90% of eligible exiting students complete an Exit Questionnaire; and 75% of eligible participants complete a Postgraduate Year 1/Intern Questionnaire.

  As of 2011, there are almost 20 000 participants involved in the MSOD Project.
  

• Can I withdraw from the MSOD Project?
  Yes. Participation in the MSOD Project is voluntary. Please read this withdrawal form and send it back to the MSOD Project team, or contact us via email or phone.