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. 2018 Jul 27;9(3):e4-e13.
eCollection 2018 Jul.

Predictors of medical student interest and confidence in research during medical school

Jennifer Klowak  1 , Radwa Elsharawi  2 , Robert Whyte  3 , Andrew Costa  2   4 , John Riva  2   5
Affiliations

Predictors of medical student interest and confidence in research during medical school

Jennifer Klowak et al. Can Med Educ J. .

Abstract

Background: Research education and opportunities are an important part of undergraduate medical education. This study's objectives were to determine students' interest in research, student self-rated research skills, and to assess potential predictors of research interest and confidence.

Methods: Stakeholder consultation and literature informed a 13-item cross-sectional survey. In 2014, all students enrolled in McMaster University's School of Medicine in Ontario, Canada were sent an electronic survey and two subsequent reminder e-mails.

Results: The response rate was 81% (498 of 618). Most (n=445, 89%) had prior research experiences. The majority of students (n=383, 86%) wanted more research education and opportunities. Higher rating of their supervisors' understanding of research was associated with greater interest in research (OR=2.08; 95% CI=1.27-3.41). Home campus (distributed vs. main) was not a significant predictor of research interest. In our adjusted linear regression model, the most significant predictors of higher self-rated research ability were prior thesis work and other prior research experience.

Conclusion: In a survey of a three-year medical school, medical student interest in further research education and opportunities was high and positively predicted by student-rated supervisors' understanding of research, but not campus location. This study also identified several predictors of student self-rated research ability.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: There are no conflicts of interest.

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