Health Sciences Education Symposium
Presentation Format
Poster
Type of Activity
Research
Original Presentation Date
2024
Date of Submission
October 2025
Abstract/Short Description
PURPOSE : The recent pass/fail scoring change for the USMLE Step 1 exam has significant implications for residency applicants. It is anticipated that research productivity will gain greater importance in the evaluation process. The NRMP provides quantitative data on residency applicants’ publications. However, there is a scarcity of studies focusing on their research experience. To support medical students, we aim to understand their attitudes, motivations, and experiences in conducting research.
METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study among second-year medical students at Eastern Virginia Medical School between October and November 2023. A questionnaire was used to assess students’ motivations and perceived barriers towards research in medical school. Students’ experiences were assessed on a Likert scale. A Mann-Whitney U test analyzed differences in attitudes and Pearson correlations quantified the relationship between perceived specialty competitiveness and research activity.
RESULTS: Preliminary results reveal that out of 61 respondents, 68% reported that the USMLE STEP-1 transition to pass/fail influenced their attitudes about research in medical school. The top motivating factors for conducting research were to be competitive for residency and to differentiate oneself from other medical students. The top barriers were lack of time, mentorship, and opportunities. Perceived specialty competitiveness is correlated with research participation but not with research publication output. There were significant differences in research output by students who indicated interest in internal medicine, general surgery, and otolaryngology. There is no statistically significant difference between genders in motivations and barriers to research, publications, or competitiveness of interested specialties.
CONCLUSION: The shift to pass/fail scoring in the USMLE STEP-1 exam has impacted MD medical students’ attitudes on research, with many considering research output a significant differentiating factor in residency candidacy. The difference in perceived competitiveness is reflected in students’ research participation. Findings from this study may inform institutions as they aim to optimize students' research.
References
Patel OU, Haynes WK, Burge KG, et al. Results of a National Survey of Program Directors' Perspectives on a Pass/Fail US Medical Licensing Examination Step 1. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(6):e2219212. Published 2022 Jun 1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.19212
McGaghie WC, Cohen ER, Wayne DB. Are United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 1 and 2 scores valid measures for postgraduate medical residency selection decisions?. Acad Med. 2011;86(1):48-52. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181ffacdb
Cangialosi PT, Chung BC, Thielhelm TP, Camarda ND, Eiger DS. Medical Students' Reflections on the Recent Changes to the USMLE Step Exams. Acad Med. 2021;96(3):343-348. doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000003847
Matthews CN, Estrada DC, George-Weinstein M, Claeson KM, Roberts MB. Evaluating the Influence of Research on Match Success for Osteopathic and Allopathic Applicants to Residency Programs [published correction appears in J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2020 Jan 1;120(1):5]. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2019;119(9):588-596. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2019.102
Elliott B, Carmody JB. Publish or Perish: The Research Arms Race in Residency Selection. J Grad Med Educ. 2023;15(5):524-527. doi:10.4300/JGME-D-23-00262.
Rights
© The Author(s)
Is Part Of
VCU Medical Education Symposium
First Author Information
Nina Li, Eastern Virginia Medical School