Research and medical students

In the present study, medical students' research activity was assessed. All of the 545 medical students at the University of Helsinki in spring term 1 997 were provided with a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The q uestions concerned participation in, motives for and productivity of resear ch work. Additionally, factors obstructing research work and the most value d quality of the supervisor were examined. The questionnaire was returned b y 298 (5%), students. Ninety-one (31%) students reported having been involv ed with extracurricular research work. Male students were significantly mor e often involved in scientific research (p = 0.001) and had also published more than female students (p = 0.05). Scientific interest and a desirefor r esidency were equally important motives for involvement in research. Scient ific competence was regarded as the most important quality of the superviso r and the main obstacle to carrying out research work was qualitative and/o r quantitative insufficiency in supervising. Medical students should be enc ouraged to carry out research work, because they thus learn critical and lo gical thinking. They should also be given all the credit for the work they have done.