摘要：Background: Research education and opportunities are an important part of undergraduate medical education. This
study’s objectives were to determine students’ interest in research, student self-rated research skills, and to assess
potential predictors of research interest and confidence.
Methods: Stakeholder consultation and literature informed a 13-item cross-sectional survey. In 2014, all students
enrolled in McMaster University’s School of Medicine in Ontario, Canada were sent an electronic survey and two
subsequent reminder e-mails.
Results: The response rate was 81% (498 of 618). Most (n=445, 89%) had prior research experiences. The majority
of students (n=383, 86%) wanted more research education and opportunities. Higher rating of their supervisors’
understanding of research was associated with greater interest in research (OR=2.08; 95% CI=1.27–3.41). Home
campus (distributed vs. main) was not a significant predictor of research interest. In our adjusted linear regression
model, the most significant predictors of higher self-rated research ability were prior thesis work and other prior
research experience.
Conclusion: In a survey of a three-year medical school, medical student interest in further research education and
opportunities was high and positively predicted by student-rated supervisors’ understanding of research, but not
campus location. This study also identified several predictors of student self-rated research ability.
