Socioeconomic and demographic predictors of extracurricular achievements among UK medical students (FAST study)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between demographic characteristics and extracurricular achievements among UK medical students.

Design: National, cross-sectional survey.

Setting: All 44 UK medical schools recognised by the General Medical Council.

Participants: 8,395 medical students.

Outcomes: Binary indicators of extracurricular engagement, including PubMed-indexed authorship, academic presentations, quality improvement projects, leadership roles and academic prizes. Logistic regression models were used to explore associations with demographic and extracurricular achievement predictors.

Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that students from private schools (OR 1.35, CI 1.20 to 1.53, p<0.0001) and those with a parent or sibling in medicine (OR 1.38, CI 1.12 to 1.69, p=0.002) had notably higher odds of participation in research. Ethnic disparities in raw extracurricular attainment were evident, but largely disappeared when adjusting for other predictors. Males were more likely to hold leadership roles and deliver oral presentations, but no gender differences were seen in publication rates.

Conclusions: Significant disparities in extracurricular achievement exist among UK medical students, principally associated with gender, private schooling and familial links to medicine. Apparent ethnic differences were largely attenuated after adjustment for other variables, indicating socioeconomic factors as stronger predictors of engagement. Given the role of these achievements in postgraduate selection, targeted interventions by medical schools and professional bodies to widen access to funding, mentorship and structured guidance for all students, regardless of perceived advantage, may support equitable opportunity without undermining merit-based standards.

Keywords: Education, Medical; Health Education; MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING.

Figure 1. Proportion of medical students with a publication by ethnicity, gender, schooling and family background. This figure displays the proportion of medical students who have authored a publication, segmented by key demographic factors. (A) shows differences by ethnicity. (B) compares schooling backgrounds. (C) presents publication rates by gender. (D) compares students with and without a doctor in the family.

Figure 2. Adjusted ORs for predictors of extracurricular and research participation among UK medical students. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluating associations between key predictors and (A) overall extracurricular engagement and (B) authorship of PubMed-indexed research. Models adjusted for gender (baseline: female), ethnicity (baseline: white), schooling background (baseline: comprehensive state school), intercalation status, previous degree, year of study (baseline: Year 1) and family in medicine (baseline: no parent/sibling in medicine). ORs >1 indicate increased likelihood of participation relative to the reference category. Red points represent point estimates; horizontal bars indicate 95% CIs.