Of the 346 students invited to participate in the study, 266 (76.9%) responded, with 167 of 234 students (74.6%) from the Pomona, California, campus and 99 of 112 students (88.4%) from the Lebanon, Oregon, campus. The sample consisted of 129 men and 137 women with an age range of 21 to 43 years. Forty students (15%) had a graduate or professional degree.
A majority of students (216 [81.2%]) reported that they participated in research before entering osteopathic medical school and, of those, 123 (56.9%) had their research published or presented. When asked if they were interested in participating in research while attending medical school, 200 (75.2%) either expressed interest or were currently participating in research. These responses were then assessed for statistical significance by comparing them with students who were not interested in research (
Table 1).
Sex and age did not significantly influence students’ interest in participating in research during osteopathic medical school (P=.78; P=.74, Mann-Whitney, respectively). Moreover, the field of the students’ bachelor’s degree (basic science vs other: OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.69-2.35; P=.44), an advanced degree (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.58-2.52; P=.61), and previous publication (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.89-2.77; P=.12) also did not influence students’ interest in participating in research during medical school. However, previous research experience was significantly associated with current interest (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.28-4.73; P=.006). Of the students with previous research experience, 200 (79%) were interested in or were currently participating in research compared with 66 students (60%) with no research experience. Analysis of a 2×2 contingency table found that the odds of students with previous research experience (interested or currently participating in research) were estimated to be 2.5 times greater than that of students with no previous research experience (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.28-4.73).
Students were asked to choose 1 or more factors that would prevent them from participating in research (
Table 2). Most students (232 [87.2%]) expressed concern about performance in their coursework as the greatest discouraging factor. This answer was followed by difficulty finding a mentor (77 [28.9%]), lack of information about research opportunities (70 [26.3%]), preference for other extracurricular activities (56 [21.1%]), lack of interest (49 [18.4%]), and other (12 [4.5%]). The 12 “other” comments primarily pertained to other obligations, such as spending time with family and military service.
Students were also queried as to the benefits of participating in research while in osteopathic medical school (
Table 2). A majority (242 [91.0%]) indicated that research participation would help them apply for residency. This explanation was followed by building their curriculum vitae (197 [74.1%]), educational value (189 [71.1%]), interest in doing research as a physician (111 [41.1%]), and other (4 [1.5%]). The “other” responses included wanting to “do research that will help illuminate public health issues in the community,” “increasing knowledge of the medical community,” “gain more experience in several ways,” and “enjoy [research] as a hobby.”
The last question, asking students about their research field of interest, allowed students to select 1 or more areas of research (
Figure). An overwhelming majority of students (218 [82.0%]) selected clinical research. This response was followed by basic science (141 [53.0%]), osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM; 94 [35.3%]), social science (93 [35.0%]), anatomical research (75 [28.2%]), other (10 [3.8%]), and no interest in research (11 [4.1%]). Of the “other” responses, 5 students stated they were interested in public health research, 1 in health care policy, 1 in medical technology and biomedical engineering, 1 in autism research and neurodevelopment, 1 in sports medicine, and 1 in HIV and infectious disease research.