Execution and quality of attention paid to medical doctoral theses at the faculty of medicine at the University of Würzburg as seen by the doctoral candidates in their 5th and 6th year of study

Abstract

The significance of a doctoral thesis in medicine has been discussed controversially among medical students and faculty members. We examined in a brief but comprehensive study how medical students evaluate their research activities and whether or not alternative thesis models should be implemented. A questionnaire comprising 50 questions was evaluated from 160 5th and 6th year medical students at the University of Wuerzburg. Almost two-thirds of our interviewees started working on a thesis project at the beginning of the 4th year of study. 59 % of our participants reported to have neglected the regular study and 56 % said to have prolonged the regular study due to the work on a thesis. Despite considerable variation, the median time spent weekly on a thesis project was 10 hours, independent of where the students worked. The median grade of satisfaction during the whole thesis was rated at 6.5 as assessed on an analogous scale from 1-10 (very satisfied). The research results from 94 students contributed to 164 articles (already published or in press) and the results of 110 students were presented at scientific meetings. Only 50 % of our interviewees were pleased with their published output and the importance of student research activities for the overall German biomedical research was rated 4.4 as assessed on an analogous scale from 1-10 (very important). 70 % of our interviewees preferred defined research periods and 47 % would apply for dual-degree research programmes. The scientific significance of a MD thesis in comparison to a PhD thesis was rated at 2.1 on an analogous scale from 1-5 (5 = equally significant). The current German research model might be modified and defined research periods and dual-degree research programmes as a one possible alternative should be considered.