Student Involvement In Research Research Articles

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

This article is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University). This study examined key biographical information about department heads and achievements of teams at various historical stages. Currently, the department follows the educational policies of Sechenov University up to 2030. New educational programs in Russian and English are created for students. New teaching methodologies are implemented, talented students are engaged in student research on infectious diseases, interdisciplinary Olympiads are held, and conditions are formed to enhance student involvement in research and development activities to prepare competitive professionals with new professional competencies (research, interdisciplinary, and digital), capable of advancing science and new technologies.

Letter: Pressure to Publish-A Precarious Precedent Among Medical Students.

To the Editor: The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) recently published its biennial report “Charting Outcomes in the Match” for the recent 2021 to 2022 application cycle.1 The goal of this report was to provide characteristics of both matched and unmatched applicants within each specialty. These data, which include measures such as average United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 scores, average number of publications/presentations/abstracts, and average number of volunteer/research/work experiences, are often used by applicants and residency programs to compare an individual's characteristics with the average applicant profile. Neurosurgery is one of the most challenging specialties to match into, with the 2022 match rate being 61%.1 Given the relative scarcity of postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) positions, several benchmarks have been established to assess applicant competitiveness, with research productivity being a primary measure.2,3 Although neurosurgery applicants have historically reported the highest number of publications, presentations, and abstracts, the NRMP's 2022 report revealed a departure from this trend. From 2020 to 2022, the average number of publications, presentations, and abstracts listed by matched U.S. MD plastic surgery applicants increased from 19.1 to 28.4 while the average number listed by matched U.S. MD neurosurgery applicants increased from 23.4 to 25.5.1,4 However, research productivity by unmatched U.S. MD neurosurgery applicants did not change dramatically between 2020 and 2022 while unmatched U.S. MD plastic surgery applicants saw a modest increase from 11.6 to 13.8.1,4 Not surprisingly, these data support an association between research productivity and likelihood of matching in each of these specialties.5,6 However, concerns over excessive research output by neurosurgery applicants have been raised previously.7 Now, it appears that the research “arms race” is beginning to involve other specialties. What has caused such an increase? As surgical residencies become increasingly competitive, applicants may opt to complete a dedicated research year to boost their research output. This is becoming more common in many surgical specialties, such as neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and plastic surgery.6,8 Although a research year is not necessary for every applicant, students may feel pressure to delay their graduation to achieve research output comparable with what is demonstrated in the 2022 Charting Outcomes data. This pressure is felt by US and international medical graduates alike.9 Indeed, research productivity is a valuable asset for academic residency programs, but there is evidence to suggest that the 2022 Charting Outcomes data may not necessarily represent an increase in high-quality publications. Rather, this rise in research output could be due to nonindexed publications, such as abstracts, book chapters, presentations, and “ghost” or “phantom” publications, which are unverifiable publications listed on residency applications.5,10,11 This presents a dilemma for applicants and residency programs alike. Peer-reviewed research is held to high standards, and medical student research is no exception to this. As applicants face more pressure to publish, they may gravitate away from performing high-quality research, which tends to be more difficult to complete in a timely manner. The value of quantity ought not to supersede that of quality, and a 49% increase in research output by successful plastic surgery applicants over the course of 2 years may threaten this principle. What can be done to address this trend? First, research mentors and residency program directors ought to emphasize the value of meaningful research projects, high-quality methodologies, and ethical principles of research.7 Second, the NRMP should consider reporting research output more granularly and specifically. Currently, publications, abstracts, and presentations are reported as a single number in the biennial Charting Outcomes report. However, these categories of research are not equivalent and should not be treated as such. Third, the Association of American Medical Colleges should consider changes to the formatting of research input in the Electronic Residency Application Service. For example, the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons has developed the Plastic Surgery Common Application, which is an alternative to Electronic Residency Application Service.12 Within the Plastic Surgery Common Application, applicants are required to list up to 3 publications to discuss during interviews and can list no more than 5 research, service, and leadership experiences. Although applicants are still able to list additional publications, this format draws attention to meaningful research endeavors.12 Although neurosurgery, and now plastic surgery, applicants lead all specialties in research output, there is an opportunity to set a new precedent. The value of medical student involvement in research should not be understated because it provides an opportunity to advance the field of medicine and collaborate with peers on a global scale. However, students must maintain a balanced educational experience with focus on patient care, academic excellence, and personal well-being. The 2022 Charting Outcomes data may be a signal that the academic medical community should reassess its current approach to applicant assessment.

Increasing Medical Student Involvement in Research: Military Ob/Gyn HeadHunters.

Our goal was to develop a successful research collaboration program, Military Ob/Gyn HeadHunters, to connect military medical students with residents, fellows, and staff physicians across the Military Health System (MHS) to foster research collaboration and mentorship. We conducted a needs assessment of medical students from the Uniformed Services University and Health Professions Scholarship Program as well as staff physicians, residents, and fellows practicing in the MHS to better understand the barriers to initiating and conducting research within the MHS. We used the survey results to create a secure online spreadsheet to match medical students to researchers recruiting student researchers. A follow-up survey was sent to all respondents 3 months after the program launch to evaluate the program. Of the medical students who completed the needs assessment, 82.56% (n = 71/86) reported barriers in participating in research. The most common barrier was "I don't know where to look for research opportunities." Of the staff surveyed, 88.24% (n = 15/17) indicated that they were interested in medical student involvement in their research. However, 53.33% (n = 8/15) of the surveyed staff reported that they did not know any students who would be good candidates. Since the launch in April 2021, our 3-month follow-up survey had a response rate of 40.00% (n = 6/15) for staff and 47.06% (n = 32/68) for students. Hundred percent (n = 6/6) of faculty advertising projects recruited at least one student to join their project. 85.71% (n = 12/14) of students actively seeking participation joined a research team. Our novel research collaboration program successfully connected military medical students with active researchers in the MHS. Leaders in medical education can consider adopting this framework to improve trainee participation in research.

A survey study examining the motivations, concerns, and perspectives of medical students engaging in neurosurgical research.

Background: In a competitive landscape for neurosurgical residency admission, research productivity is increasingly important. Medical school applicants to neurosurgery report high numbers of “scholarly products” as published by the National Residency Match Program. Despite increased student involvement in research and productivity, to the best of our knowledge, no previous reported studies have examined student perspectives on their involvement in neurosurgical research.Methods: For 2 consecutive years (February 2019 and February 2020), medical students (n = 55) from around the United States presented original research at the Student Neurosurgical Research Conference. Participants were administered a mixed-method survey designed to assess experiences and perspectives on engaging in neurosurgical research. Survey responses were analyzed independently by two researchers to assess for common themes and perspectives.Results: Medical students engaged in all types of research work across nearly every neurosurgical subfield with “Basic/Bench Lab work” (38.5%) and “Chart Review” (23.1%) representing the majority of projects. Students commonly cited “curiosity/interest,” and “residency application competitiveness” as main reasons for participation in research. About 66% of respondents reported experiencing anxiety/concern about research productivity “often” or “very often.” Thematic analysis revealed that sources of research-related stress were (1) having enough publications to match into residency, and (2) having enough time in medical school to engage in research.Conclusion: Medical students engaging in neurosurgical research are highly motivated students driven by scientific curiosity and pressure to prepare for competitive residency applications. Students experience anxiety due to time constraints in medical curricula and increasing demands for scholarly productivity.

Analyzing the cost of medical student virtual conference registration by specialty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical student involvement in research is an important metric used by residency programs across most specialties to better assess the candidates' commitment to advancing medicine as well as their specialty of interest. One strategy is presentation of research work at national conferences in the specialty of interest; another is simply attending these events for networking purposes with program directors. However, attending these conferences carries cost. To investigate the cost incurred by medical students to attend the premier annual scientific meeting of each major medical specialty in 2020, during the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to evaluate whether "research intensive" specialties carried greater conference registration costs. Potential medical specialties to which students can apply upon graduation were identified in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). "Research intensive" specialties were defined as those with a mean number of abstracts, presentations, or publications≥10 per matched applicant in the 2020 NRMP. The premier conference for each specialty was determined by membership in the American Medical Association House of Delegates in the NRMP. The cost to be a member of each conference's parent organization and attend the annual meeting were determined by internet search. Subgroup analysis was conducted to compare cost between research intensive and non research intensive specialties. The registration cost of 19 virtual conferences held in 2020 were analyzed in this study. The average cost to attend as a medical student member of the hosting organization for all conferences was $49.82 (range, $0-$331; SD±$92.18), while the average cost to attend as a nonmember across all conferences was $188.16 (range, $0-$595; SD±$176.35; p<0.001). Seven of 19 (36.8%) meetings had free registration for medical students who are members of the hosting organization. The premier meetings affiliated with the seven research intensive specialties had a significantly higher mean cost for medical students who were members of the parent organization than the meetings of the other specialties ($125.60 vs. $49.20; p=0.031). There was no significant difference in mean registration cost between research intensive and non research intensive specialty conference registration for nonmember medical students (p=0.85). Vascular surgery, radiation oncology, and emergency medicine were the three specialties with the most expensive medical student member registration fees overall ($331, $200, and $195, respectively). Medical student attendance and presentation at national scientific meetings was found to be significantly more costly for research intensive specialties, although all meetings were held in an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, this reflects an increased financial burden to an already indebted medical student population and compounds the stresses brought on by the pandemic. More national medical societies might consider free meeting registration to reflect support for medical students and encourage their continued participation in research to advance their specialty of interest.

The student perspective of a staff-student partnership scheme.

The student perspective of a staff-student partnership scheme.

Role of Research in Ensuring Continuing Quality Improvement in Outcome-Based Education in the Health Professions

The Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED), through Memorandum Order 46 Series 2012, unmistakably espouses outcome-based education (OBE) as the main approach to higher education learning. To attain its goal of developing a critical mass of high-quality graduates, research that will drive technological innovation, economic growth and global competitiveness and provide directions to the country’s policies and strategies must be supported. Research plays at least two roles in ensuring quality in outcome-based education – in curriculum development and in the implementation of OBE. Greater student involvement in research to hone their skills in research will help them become independent producers of knowledge and capable lifelong learners. Teachers enrich the content of their courses with research experience and findings, both from reviewing the literature and from the conduct of actual experiments and studies. To overcome problems with OBE implementation, research can be utilized as a problem-solving activity. Researches can provide situational analysis on the level of quality of education and monitor its trends, seek causal factors that account for variations in the attainment of quality standards, test for educational interventions and identify good/best practices in teaching and learning. This paper provides suggestions for designs for the application of research for these purposes.

Factors influencing the involvement of doctor of pharmacy students in research and scholarship projects

IntroductionThe study objective was to determine factors that stimulate or hinder student pharmacist participation in research and scholarship, to determine factors faculty believe are motivators or barriers for student pharmacist participation, and to compare student and faculty responses. MethodsAn electronic questionnaire was developed and emailed to all students enrolled in the doctor of pharmacy program and to all program faculty. To increase response rate, students were provided class time to complete the survey. Responses were collected anonymously. ResultsA total of 404 students (69% response rate) and 35 faculty (78% response rate) participated. Motivational factors rated highly by both students and faculty were interest in the topic, comfort level in working with faculty, energetic quality of faculty, and becoming more competitive for post-graduate training. Students indicated that projects benefiting the profession/medical community was an important motivator, while faculty believed that pursuing a position that requires research/scholarship was a key motivational factor. The most highly rated barrier was lack of time. ConclusionsStudent pharmacist participation in research and scholarship with faculty is variable in our program and little was known previously about factors that led student pharmacists to engage in research and scholarship. There was general agreement among student and faculty regarding several motivating factors; however, some important differences did exist. Addressing these differences may help increase student involvement in research and scholarship in the future.

Factors Predictive of Medical Student Involvement in Research: Results from a New Zealand Institution.

BackgroundPrevious studies have elucidated several benefits of engagement in research by medical students. The aim of the current study was to assess if any factors influenced the student’s actual involvement (not mere interest) in scholarly activities during medical school.MethodsAll medical students at the University of Otago were invited via e-mail to complete an online questionnaire. The outcome was a substantial contribution to a research project. The predictors were prior research experience, student’s entry route, and planned career type. Multiple regression analysis was undertaken to control for any confounding factors influencing medical students’ involvement in research.ResultsValid responses were gathered from 669 students (yielding a response rate of 44.8%). Of those, 254 students (38.3%) had engaged in one or more research activities. Students who engaged in research activities indicated a higher likelihood of future involvement in research but expressed less interest in internal medicine sub-specialties as potential future careers.ConclusionA sizeable proportion of our samples has been involved in the research. Targeting medical students not yet involved in research may necessitate additional curricular and faculty support in order to stimulate their research curiosity.

Increasing student involvement in research: acollaborative approach between faculty and students.

Baccalaureate nursing curriculum generally include a research or evidence-based practice course, but students may have little opportunity for specific application of the research process during their nursing education. Using Modeling and Role-modeling as a theoretical framework, a scholarly collaboration between faculty and student was developed to promote a unique and engaging undergraduate research endeavor. Faculty researchers developed an exploratory community-based research study to survey the local population about the immediate and lingering physical, financial, psychological, and emotional effects of Hurricane Harvey on the community. The project allowed students to gain invaluable knowledge about the research process, time management techniques, application of theory to the practice setting, community health assessment, collaboration among team members, and achieve student learning outcomes. Student participation in this research project provided necessary collaboration and leadership experiences that will benefit students during school and in their professional practice.

Scientific workshop as an innovative form of student involvement in research

Scientific workshop as an innovative form of student involvement in research

Connecting with Community and Facilitating Learning through the Little Rock Congregations Study

Places of worship play important roles as anchor institutions that promote community engagement and motivate political activity. Universities, particularly in urban settings, can also serve as anchor institutions that connect communities. Yet, there is often a gulf between the two, to the detriment of the broader community. In this article, we present the Little Rock Congregations Study (LRCS) as an approach to community engagement with faith-based organizations in an urban setting. This research project, based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, involves an interdisciplinary team focused on understanding and improving the community engagement of congregations in the city of Little Rock since 2012. We present qualitative and quantitative data to illustrate the benefits of our approach, including research results returned to community organizations, greater visibility of the university in the community, student involvement in research and with faith-based organizations, and substantive findings that inform the greater body of knowledge and our own community. Through more than eight years of community-based work on the LRCS we provide six key lessons learned for researchers and students building relationships with religious leaders that can help bridge the gulf between these two key community institutions.

ІННОВАЦІЙНЕ НАВЧАННЯ ТА НАЙКРАЩІ ПРАКТИКИ: УКРАЇНСЬКІ УНІВЕРСИТЕТИ

The purpose of this study was to identify the most used, popular innovative technologies, best pedagogical practices; comparison with the experience of EU universities and the creation of recommendations that will enable Ukrainian partners in the future to prepare applicants for higher education competitive in the labor market. This study was conducted to implement one of the goals of the project - effective cooperation between the pedagogical sector of higher education in Ukraine and the EU, school teachers and their associations. The Ukrainian participants of the project faced the task: to formulate an understanding of the necessary aspects for creating a profile of student competence in new disciplines, to build profiles of digital competence of teachers and lecturers based on the exchange of knowledge gained from EU partners. As part of the project tasks, an analysis of the level of educational programs and best pedagogical practices, issues of community importance, exchange of pedagogical experience between university teachers and university departments, technological features of university leadership support for teachers' innovation, student involvement in research and project activities, use of technical means by teachers of Ukrainian universities - project partners, current assessment systems and priority areas of educational culture.

Fostering the physician–scientist workforce: a prospective cohort study to investigate the effect of undergraduate medical students’ motivation for research on actual research involvement

ObjectivesThe medical field is facing a physician–scientist shortage. Medical schools could contribute to developing physician–scientists by stimulating student involvement in research. Studies have examined motivation for research as a key...

Publication rates of, and attitudes toward, summer research projects: 10-year experience from a single institution in New Zealand.

Background: Research is increasingly being emphasized from an early stage in medical students’ careers. Medical student involvement in research and authorship of peer-reviewed manuscripts have been shown to enhance their academic performance—both in the short term and long term. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes and motivations of the summer studentship research program at our institution, using Vroom’s expectancy theory as a conceptual framework.Methods: We utilized a mixed-methods approach to our study. Two databases (PubMed™ and Google Scholar™) were searched for publication data. In addition, students and supervisors of the program at the University of Otago were invited to provide comments on the program. Qualitative data were analyzed using an inductive, pragmatic approach which involved coding responses and grouping codes into common themes.Results: Between 2007 and 2016, 1,345 projects were completed, of which 326 (24.2%) resulted in a peer-reviewed publication. Students made up 48.1% of the first-authors. Three themes each emerged from the students and the supervisors’ survey. Student themes included: motives for undertaking a summer studentship, administrative benefits and barriers, and perceived outcomes of the program. Supervisor themes included: motivations for engaging in the summer studentship program, administrative benefits and barriers, and expectations placed on the student. These themes are consistent with Vroom’s expectancy theory where motivation is related to expectancy, instrumentality, and valence.Conclusion: A dedicated program to foster an interest in research by medical students has great value as judged by an overall publication rate of 24.2%. In addition, it provides opportunities to explore areas of interest in depth, acquire research skills, pilot new avenues of research, and create professional networks. Student research program needs to be well founded and well supported including administrative and statistical support.

The formation of a medical student research committee and its impact on involvement in departmental research

ABSTRACTOver the past ten years, medical students have increased their research activity to be competitive for orthopaedic residency positions throughout the country. This increase may favor students at institutions with a strong history of research production and well-established research departments with supporting staff. To compete with these institutions, a Musculoskeletal Research Committee was developed at a southern academic institution to provide a mutually beneficial link between orthopaedic research faculty and medical students. This manuscript describes the formation of this committee and the resultant involvement of young medical students in departmental research over a one year period. Composed of students and faculty, the committee developed a Research Guide for Medical Students, Research Database and Student List, Medical Students’ Webpage, and Routing Form, and holds quarterly meetings for those students active in orthopaedic research. With this platform, the committee aimed to increase young student involvement in research and provide a stratified level of study participation among upper-level students for continued mentorship. In one calendar year, the total number of first and second-year students participating in department research increased 460% (5 to 28). Also, the total number of research projects with student involvement from these two classes increased 780% (5 to 44). The introduction of a research committee is an effective method of stimulating student interest in departmental research. Early participation results are promising, and this method may be applicable to other departments and institutions hoping to increase research productivity.Abbreviations: IRB: Institutional Review Board

Research during medical school: is it particularly difficult in developing countries compared to developed countries?

ObjectivesMedical student involvement in research has been declining over the years. We reviewed the factors that hinder participation in research with a focus on developing countries.MethodsLiterature search was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library. Peer-reviewed articles published between 1995 and 2017 were screened for relevance to identify key factors affecting medical student involvement in research with a particular focus on developing world. Analytical review is presented here in this article in relation to commonly reported aspects related to research during medical school.ResultsThis search revealed varied contributing factors that hinder students’ growth and interest in research. It commonly highlighted few aspects in relation to research during medical school, and they were “variability in research uptake among students and issues related to them, their knowledge and attitude toward research and organizational input and its influence on students”.ConclusionWhile early introduction to research by inculcating a mindset aimed at research has been proposed, it has not been seen in practice during either the medical school or beyond to an extent that was expected. It appears that developing countries, while they share some of the reasons with developed countries, have their own set of difficulties, which are influenced by culture, beliefs and priorities.

Improving undergraduate medical student involvement in research.

Improving undergraduate medical student involvement in research.

Faculty and Student Evaluations of a Medical Student Summer Research Program: a 15 Year Analysis

Objectives The need for a better understanding of how medical student involvement in research at the university plays a role in both short-term and long-term outcomes provides the impetus for this study.

Undergraduate student involvement in Fashion and Textile research

Abstract This work provides an insight into a functioning partnership between one academic member of staff and one student. The student was effectively paid to learn in an area that benefitted their interests and employability, as they undertook an internship and the academic acquired an extra pair of hands to carry out the tasks that they had difficulty finding the time to do. These tasks were the first stages of research enquiry, where the time intensity of their practical nature had meant the academic had failed to embark on their research journey sooner. This case study reviews the impact of taking on an undergraduate student as a paid intern to help an academic begin their research. The benefits and draw backs from the academic and student perspective are discussed, as are the difficulties found in establishing a foothold on the first steps to research. Whilst beginning research can be difficult, it is a requirement of the academic role. With much debate surrounding the quality of work nationally from Fashion and Textile (F&amp;T) contributions, it could be seen as a level of judgment that is preferably avoided. Statistics discussed in the work show little involvement from F&amp;T academics and this was felt to be a result of a lack of time and guidance. Where the internship was expected to free up the academic’s time there were unseen problems that hindered progress, but also benefits that helped to shape the direction of research. Student involvement in research helped to narrow the academic’s focus into an achievable outcome and has highlighted the benefit of working with others. The findings detail the partnership as a positive experience and raises awareness of areas that need to be addressed within Institutions, so that academics can be helped into beginning research, particularly in F&amp;T subjects.