This study is an extension of previous study by WesternU/COMP-Northwest,
16 in which experience with and attitudes toward research were examined among first-year osteopathic medical students at WesternU/COMP and WesternU/COMP-Northwest. Those data revealed that the vast majority of students reported prior research experience and were interested in participating in research during medical school. Additionally, osteopathic medical students at 1 COM reported that there were perceived barriers and benefits to participating in research during medical school.
16 However, the generalizability of those findings to other COMs was unclear because of the limitation of surveying students at only 1 COM. Using the same survey instrument, with slight modifications for broader distribution, the current study allowed aggregate analysis of cohort-matched osteopathic medical students at 4 COMs and revealed institution-specific differences between students. Similar to Carter et al,
16 the vast majority of students at each COM reported previous research experience (79.6% overall in our study vs 81% in the Carter et al study) and potential participation in research during medical school (89.0% vs 75%). That said, χ
2 analyses revealed institution-specific differences in research interests and experience, with COMP/WesternU and COMP-Northwest students reporting the highest amount of previous research experience, WVSOM students reporting the highest interest in participating in research, and UP-KYCOM students reporting the lowest amount of research experience and interest in research. Across campuses, the majority of students reported interest in clinical research, which is consistent with Carter et al,
16 Pheley et al,
19 and Licciardone et al
20 regarding clinical research electives. Moreover, approximately half of the students in the current study and in Carter et al
16 reported interest in basic science research, while approximately one-third of students in both studies reported interest in osteopathic manipulative medicine research. Notably, interest in research participation during osteopathic medical school was significantly greater for students with previous research experience when compared with students with no research experience. These findings may have important implications for COMs that are considering expanding their research programs and increasing research opportunities for students, potentially through recruitment and admission practices, faculty hiring in particular research areas, and intramural research funding and infrastructure.
Ample evidence shows that research participation provides many collateral benefits to medical professionals, including sharpened critical thinking and lifelong learning skills,
1-4 greater appreciation for evidence-based medicine
5; and improvement in clinical competency scores.
6 It is important to keep in mind that the primary benefit ascribed to research participation by students in the current study and in Carter et al
16 was the potential for enhanced competitiveness in residency applications (83.5% vs 91.0%, respectively). This finding is striking considering that, for all available years (2013-2018), nearly half of recent osteopathic graduates reported that their medical school did not devote adequate time to research.
8-13 Previous studies of allopathic medical students reported that they value research participation as contributing to their career development and that it increased their confidence about placement into their desired residency.
21-23 Previous reports
24-26 found that research experience increased the likelihood of allopathic medical students matching into their desired residency program for many specialties. Corresponding data are limited regarding osteopathic medical students.
26 Furthermore, the 2018 NRMP Program Director survey indicated that, in certain specialties (eg, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, interventional radiology), more than 75% of program directors surveyed felt that “demonstrated involvement and interest in research” was a key factor in the selection of applicants for an interview.
27 Therefore, it is important to identify the motivations and real or perceived barriers to participating in research during osteopathic medical school.
In the present study and in Carter et al,
16 the overwhelmingly predominant barrier or concern was the potential for research to negatively affect performance in coursework (88.1% vs 87.2%, respectively), which we suspect is due to the time commitment required for conducting meaningful research. Similar barriers to those reported in the current study have been reported by US and international allopathic medical students, including time, funding, research mentor availability, research techniques training, and receiving appropriate acknowledgment for their research contributions.
22,28,29 In the changing landscape of the residency match process, osteopathic medical schools should be encouraged to provide more research opportunities for their medical students because evidence suggests that research experience during medical school correlates with matching into residency programs and is considered a key factor by residency program directors.
25,26 Directly addressing research barriers may lead to increased opportunities for research experience during medical training. For instance, by implementing specific tools and resources (added mentorship, protected time, biostatistical assistance), resident physicians increased their publication and national presentation rates.
30 Therefore, institutions that emphasize medical student research should consider instituting similar types of incentives (eg, monetary compensation, dedicated time in the curriculum, or a pass-fail grading system) to encourage research participation.
The current study has several important limitations that may affect its generalization to osteopathic medical students nationwide. First, the response rate (38%) was relatively low. Second, our survey instrument, while anonymous, relied on the accuracy of self-reported information. Third, the experience and perceptions of first-year osteopathic medical students at the COMs may have been influenced by regional or institution-specific factors that were beyond the scope of the study. Similarly, institution-specific admission criteria may have underpinned differences between the COMs. Taking these limitations into consideration, overall consistency was observed between the campuses and our prior study,
16 which had a response rate of 77%. Thus, we cautiously generalize our findings and interpret them in the context of undergraduate osteopathic medical education overall.