Willingness of Chinese Clinical Researchers to Participate in International Clinical Research Training: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background The reform of medical education in China, particularly the emphasis on lifelong learning, has transformed its structure and content, prioritizing the integration of clinical research with practice. However, limited access to research training resources poses challenges for clinical physicians. With the acceleration of globalization, enhancing physicians' global competencies has become increasingly important, highlighting the need for international clinical research training. This study explores Chinese physicians' willingness to participate in such training and identifies factors influencing their preferences to inform future program design. Methods An online questionnaire consisting of 24 questions was designed and distributed via the "NEJM Medical Frontiers" WeChat platform. The survey targeted clinical physicians and clinical researchers across China, aiming to assess their willingness to engage in international clinical research, along with their research background, training needs, and preferences. Convenience sampling was employed for participant recruitment. From January 11 to February 7, 2023, a total of 324 fully completed questionnaires were received, among which 312 were valid. Statistical analysis consisted primarily of descriptive analysis and chi-square tests. Results Between January 11 and February 7, 2023, 324 questionnaires were completed, of which 312 were valid. Most respondents were physicians (66.7%, n=208), with the remainder from universities, research institutes, or pharmaceutical-related companies (33.3%, n=104).Overall, 247 respondents (78.9%) expressed interest in international clinical research training. Those with a doctoral degree and first-author experience in SCI-indexed publications (68.4%, n=121, P=0.040), particularly those with 1–9 publications (72.2%, n=109, P=0.028), were significantly more likely to show interest. These respondents also prioritized learning clinical research design methods (mean score: 7.28 vs. 6.52, P=0.009), especially randomized controlled trials (n=118, P=0.048). Conclusion This study revealed a high demand for international clinical research training among clinical researchers in China. Physicians with higher academic qualifications and prior SCI publication experience demonstrated a greater need to conduct higher-quality clinical research, making them more inclined to pursue international training. Their primary expectations for training focused on research design, particularly large-scale randomized controlled trials.