A medical student scholarly concentrations program: scholarly self-efficacy and impact on future research activities

Rebecca M. DiBiase, Mary Catherine Beach, Joseph A. Carrese, Jennifer A. Haythornthwaite, Sarah J. Wheelan, Meredith A. Atkinson, Gail Geller, Kelly A. Gebo, Jeremy A. Greene, Stephen M. Sozio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The Scholarly Concentrations program was established at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2009 with the aim of instilling passion for scholarship. Objective: Our study aimed to determine whether the Scholarly Concentrations program achieves positive changes in medical student self-efficacy in conducting research and, if so, whether this results in future career aspirations toward scholarship. Design: We used the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory-Short Form (CRAI-SF) to assess changes in self-efficacy among students completing the Scholarly Concentrations program between 2014 and 2017. We calculated composite mean scores of six domains. We included outcomes on whether students published a manuscript, overall program perceptions, and likelihood of future research careers. We analyzed relationships between CRAI-SF scores and outcomes using paired t-tests and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. Results: A total of 419 students completed the Scholarly Concentrations program. All 6 CRAI domain scores showed significant improvements in self-efficacy between the pre-Scholarly Concentrations and post-Scholarly Concentrations ratings (range of changes 0.76–1.39, p < 0.05 for all). We found significant associations between post-Scholarly Concentrations self-efficacy ratings and course satisfaction (adjusted OR 1.57 [95% CI 1.20, 2.07]) and mentor satisfaction (OR 1.46 [1.15, 1.86]), as well as students’ intent to conduct future research (OR 1.46 [1.15, 1.86]). These results were robust to sensitivity analyses, and pronounced in the group of students without prior research experience. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a Scholarly Concentrations program is associated with an increased self-efficacy for research, and these changes in self-efficacy are associated with higher satisfaction in the scholarly experience and increased likelihood of pursuing scholarly work. Other medical schools could use such a tool of self-efficacy to both investigate the overall Scholarly Concentrations experience and understand factors that may increase interest in future physician-scientist pathways.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1786210
JournalMedical education online
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2020

Keywords

  • Self-efficacy
  • scholarly concentrations program
  • scholarship
  • undergraduate medical education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A medical student scholarly concentrations program: scholarly self-efficacy and impact on future research activities'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this