Factors Determining Medical Students' Experience in an Independent Research Year During the Medical Program

Overview

Journal Med Sci Educ

Publisher Springer

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2021 Aug 30

PMID 34457986

Citations 9

Authors

Kerry Uebel

Maha Pervaz Iqbal

Jane Carland

Greg Smith

Md Saiful Islam

Boaz Shulruf

Sally Nathan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There is ongoing debate about best practice models to support active learning by encouraging medical students to conduct independent research projects. This study explored student satisfaction, experiences, and learning outcomes of a unique, mandatory research program in an Australian medical school.

Methods: Students were invited to complete an anonymous survey ranking statements using Likert scales and completing open-ended questions. Factors predicting student satisfaction with the research year were analysed using a generalised linear regression model. A content analysis of open-ended questions was conducted.

Results: The survey was completed in October 2019 by 117 of 252 students (46%). The majority (84%) reported satisfaction with the research year. Factors associated with satisfaction were research skills learnt (OR 2.782, 95% CI 1.428-5.421; p < 0.003), supervision and support (OR = 2.587, 95% CI 1.237-5.413; p < 0.012), and meaningfulness and experience (OR = 2.506, 95% CI 1.100-5.708; p < 0.029). Qualitative results confirmed support from the faculty and supervisors, perceiving their research as meaningful, and the opportunity to learn research skills were highly regarded by students.

Conclusions: This study has shown that learning outcomes for basic research skills and high satisfaction rates can be achieved in a mandatory undergraduate research programme when students have dedicated time for their research, opportunities to negotiate their own project, and good support from faculty and mentors.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-021-01340-9.

Citing Articles

Early Exposure of Medical Students to a Formal Research Program Promotes Successful Scholarship in a Multi-Campus Medical School.

Conover G, Monk M, Nigli S, Awalt A Med Sci Educ. 2024; 34(5):1091-1103.

PMID: 39450036 PMC: 11496467. DOI: 10.1007/s40670-024-02098-6.

Medical Education Challenges in the Era of Internationalization and Digitization.

Fedorchenko Y, Zimba O, Gulov M, Yessirkepov M, Fedorchenko M J Korean Med Sci. 2024; 39(39):e299.

PMID: 39403752 PMC: 11473258. DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e299.

Learning to Learn Independently: Guiding Students to Develop Self-Directed Learning Skills During Medical Student Independent Research Projects-Findings from an Australian University.

Uebel K, Carland J, Iqbal M, Smith G, Nathan S Med Sci Educ. 2024; 34(4):883-890.

PMID: 39099865 PMC: 11297219. DOI: 10.1007/s40670-024-02054-4.

"Excited When They See Their Name in Print": Research Outputs from an Australian Medical Program.

Dinh H, Uebel K, Iqbal M, Grant A, Shulruf B, Nathan S Med Sci Educ. 2024; 34(3):639-645.

PMID: 38887404 PMC: 11180040. DOI: 10.1007/s40670-024-02029-5.

Registrars' experience with research in family medicine training programmes in South Africa.

Louw E, Mash R S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2024; 66(1):e1-e12.

PMID: 38708745 PMC: 11079345. DOI: 10.4102/safp.v66i1.5907.

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