Resumen de Investigación en pregrado de las escuelas de medicina de Chile: Motivación y participación de estudiantes de medicina asistentes al Congreso Chileno de Estudiantes de Medicina (COCEM)
Nicolás Sarzosa, Pablo Araya, Marco Ruiz, Melissa Araya, Catalina Biénzobas, Slavka Chelebifski, María José Ayala, Claudia G. Sáez
Background: The participation of medical students in research generates professional, scientific, and personal benefits for the student. Aim: To evaluate the interest and opportunities for medical students in Chile to participate in scientific research and their perceptions about factors influencing research. Material and Methods: All students attending the 2018 Chilean Congress for Medical Students were invited to answer a 44 questions survey about interest and opportunities to participate in research. Results: The survey was answered by 489 of the 538 students attending the congress. Eighty five percent referred interest in conducting scientific research, but only 47% had the opportunity to actively participate in a research project. The main research area providing opportunities was epidemiology and the main form to access a research project was through direct contact with a medical professor or researcher. Seventy seven percent of respondents had courses of scientific investigation in their medical curriculum and 92% had a scientific society for medical students in their university. Conclusions: Respondents showed a great deal of interest in participating in scientific research. However, there is a gap between this interest and the available opportunities. Medical professors should promote and facilitate the participation of their students in research.
