Are medical students interested in conducting research? A case study on the recruitment outcome of an elective research summer opportunity

Abstract

A pilot summer elective research opportunity was made available to medical students at the University of Malta. A call was sent out in June 2021. Interested students sent a short “intention to participate” email to the coordinator which was analysed. One in every twelve enrolled medical students applied. The commonest reason for participation was to gain research experience and knowledge, with a majority expressing no prior experience. Lack of research opportunities may be one of the barriers faced by students, resulting in the poor inclination to conduct research as undergraduates. Identifying specific barriers is recommended in order to provide a tangible research future.