ArticlePloS one2026
The problem is escalating: Barriers faced by medical students in conducting research; A scoping literature review.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- OpenSpineConsortium: An Open-Source Framework for Medical Student Engagement in Computational Spine Imaging Research.Cureus · 2026Article
- Research Mentorship for Undergraduate Medical Students in Low-Income Settings: A Perspective from Uganda.Advances in medical education and practice · 2026Article
- Embedding research education and scholarly project development into a medical education curriculum: a transferable glocalized curriculum model.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundResearch is a cornerstone of medical education, equipping future healthcare professionals with critical thinking skills and the ability to apply evidence-based practices. Despite its importance, medical students often encounter numerous obstacles that hinder their active participation in research. These challenges not only affect students' academic growth but also limit the advancement of medical knowledge and innovation within the healthcare system.
aimThis study aimed to review, map, and synthesize the barriers that hinder medical students from engaging in research, and to provide insights that can inform educational reforms and policy interventions to strengthen research capacity among medical students.
methodsThe authors followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Scoping review guidelines. The initial search was conducted in January 2025 and concluded in August 2025. A comprehensive literature search was performed across three major electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The following key terms were used: "medical students", "research barriers", "research participation", "challenges", and "medical education". Only peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2010 and 2025 that examined barriers faced by medical students in conducting research were included. Studies focusing on non-medical or postgraduate students, non-English articles, editorials, and abstracts without full texts were excluded.
resultsFifty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The review identified key barriers hindering medical students' engagement in research, including limited mentorship, heavy academic workload, and insufficient research training. Institutional challenges such as inadequate funding and poorly structured curricula further restricted participation.
conclusionImproving mentorship, research training, and institutional support is crucial to empower medical students and foster greater engagement in research.
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.