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. 2023 Oct 13;16(1):269.
doi: 10.1186/s13104-023-06542-5.

"Publish or Perish": barriers to research publication in an undergraduate medical research program

Abdulrahman F Alsulami  1   2 , Zeyad O Khaimi  1   2 , Mohammed A Hadi  1   2 , Yazeed H Aljabri  1   2 , Talha S Mayet  1   2 , Alaa Althubaiti  3   4
Affiliations

"Publish or Perish": barriers to research publication in an undergraduate medical research program

Abdulrahman F Alsulami et al. BMC Res Notes. .

Abstract

Objectives: Publication is one of the crucial parameters in research, and the inability to publish has been noted in many medical students' projects due to different reasons. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the obstacles that prevented medical students in a health science university from publishing their research from 2018 to 2021. First, an online survey was distributed to assess the obstacles to publication perceived by the medical students. Second, a total of 81 research projects were evaluated by scientific reviewers and their final decision about the publication was recorded.

Results: In total, 162 students filled out the survey. The barriers faced by the students were various. They included an unsupportive research supervisor, a lack of time, an insufficient sample size, and many others. In the reviewer's evaluation, out of 81 projects, 70 projects (86.4%) were recommended to be published after minor or major modifications, while 11 projects (13.6%) were rejected due to poor writing style, poor results interpretation, and incorrect methodology.

Conclusion: Articulating the barriers to undergraduate medical research publication is important in boosting publication rates and research experience of graduating medical students. Medical research educators and research supervisors should strongly consider creating a framework that tackles existing obstacles and any future matters.

Keywords: Barriers; Medical research; Publication; Students; Undergraduate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentages of responses for obstacles faced in publishing medical research as perceived by students in undergraduate medical research program
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Opinion of reviewers on research manuscripts’ publishability at the end of medical research program (n = 81 research manuscripts)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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