ArticleBMJ open2025
Barriers and enablers to medical students' engagement in research and clinical academic careers: a mixed-methods study.
Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- A novel, free regional conference model to increase interest and engagement of medical trainees in pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology research.JPGN reports · 2026Article
- Article
- Medical Students' Experiences With an Integrated Surgical Suturing Training Module Using Simulation Models and Asynchronous Videos: Interpretive Qualitative Study.JMIR medical education · 2026Article
- Innovation and entrepreneurship among health professions students at a medical college in China: a cross-sectional study of attitudes, participation frequency, self-reported competencies, and associated factors.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Pitch Perfect: Clinical Research Primer on the Art of Pitching Projects for Medical Students.Journal of neurological surgery reports · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo identify and understand the barriers and enablers influencing medical students' engagement with research and consideration of academic careers.
designThis was a mixed-methods explanatory sequential study comprising two surveys (Phase 1 and Phase 2), followed by semistructured interviews (Phase 3).
settingThe School of Medicine at Newcastle University.
participantsAll students from all year groups at The School of Medicine, Newcastle University (UK) were invited to participate, with data collected from 343 survey respondents and 25 students in semistructured interviews.
resultsSurvey responses from 188 students in Phase 1 (exploratory survey) and 155 students in Phase 2 (general student survey) identified barriers which reflect personal experience (eg, lack of knowledge and confidence), practical constraints (eg, time constraints and academic pressures) and institutional contexts (eg, insufficient research teaching and lack of formal opportunities). Enablers included mentors and other sources of information about research.Interview data emphasised that academic mentoring relationships are often emergent rather than planned. The limited visibility of research opportunities and of mentors was a significant barrier and perpetuated a culture where research was not normalised within the curriculum. Conversely, enablers included intrinsic motivations (eg, intellectual curiosity and desire to contribute to knowledge) and extrinsic motivations (eg, career advancement). Social dynamics between peer groups emerged, whereby these could act as either a barrier or an enabler, depending on the normalisation of research within their networks.
conclusionsTo enhance engagement with research and promote the attractiveness of a clinical academic career, research should become a 'normal' part of undergraduate medical education. Visible integration of research into the undergraduate curriculum, providing structured mentorship programmes and ensuring equitable access to research opportunities will aid this. Addressing these factors may sustain the pipeline of students pursuing clinical academic careers.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.