Fostering Research Engagement and Ideation: Insights from Medical Students in Thailand

Background Research plays a crucial role in fostering critical thinking skills in students, which greatly contributes to their future careers. In addition, many life-saving drugs have been developed from discoveries made through medical student research. However, students often struggle to find captivating research topics and suitable advisors. This study aims to facilitate medical student engagement in research by identifying how experienced researchers generate ideas and connect with research advisors. Methods A sequential mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative surveys. The study focused on the 2023 cohort of third-year medical students, who were required to complete a research proposal as part of their graduation requirements. Quantitative data were analyzed using t-tests and Chi-square tests to assess associations. Additionally, structured interviews were conducted to provide deeper qualitative insights. Results The most important factor in initiating research ideas was discussing with faculty staff specializing in the area of interest (91.5%), followed by self-literature review (53.2%), and attending research seminars (46.8%). For successive research projects, attending research seminars became less important (21.9%). Research advisors were primarily found through research seminars (38.1%) and by directly asking class lecturers (20.3%). First research advisors were often class professors (23.4%), while successive research advisors were obtained through other professors' recommendations (28.1%). The interview delved deeper into each participant’s motivations for pursuing research, uncovering their perspectives on how effectively the curriculum facilitated professor matching and their personal experiences with research advisors. Additionally, while many participants expressed a personal interest in research, the majority opposed the idea of making research a mandatory requirement in medical school. Conclusion Discussion with faculty staff, personal literature review, and research seminars are crucial in sparking research ideas among medical students. However, research seminars become less relevant for generating ideas after students complete their first research project. Research seminars still play a significant role in helping students find research advisors. Medical schools aiming to promote research among students should support these activities.