Predictors of self-reported research engagement and academic-career interest amongst medical students in the United Kingdom: a national cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesised that the gender/ethnic disparities and reductions in the UK academic-clinician workforce stem from research experience in medical school. This study investigated the factors influencing research engagement and academic-career interests among UK medical students. METHODS: Using a 42-item online questionnaire, a national multicentre cross-sectional survey of UK medical students was conducted over 9 weeks in the 2020/21 academic year. Multiple binary logistic and zero-inflated negative binomial regressions were used to evaluate associations between the predictor variables and research engagement (yes/no), number of research projects conducted, and academic-career interest (yes/no). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In total, 1573 students participated from 36 medical schools. No ethnic/gender differences in research engagement were observed. However, compared to men, women had a 31% decrease in the odds of being interested in an academic-clinician career [odds ratio (OR): 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52, 0.92]. Positive predictors of interest in academia were being a PubMed-indexed author (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.38, 3.47) and having at least one national/international presentation (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.88). Career progression was the primary motivating factor (67.1%) for pursuing research, whereas limited awareness of opportunities (68.0%) and time constraints (67.5%) were the most common barriers. CONCLUSION: There were no ethnic differences in research engagement or academic-career intent. Although there were no gender differences in research engagement, female students were less likely to be interested in an academic career. This could be tackled by providing targeted opportunities to increase research productivity and self-efficacy in medical schools. Key messages: What is already known on this topic: There has been a decline in the number of academic clinicians, with a disproportionate gender and ethnic representation in the academic workforce. Engaging medical students in research activities during their medical training could mitigate the declining number of academic clinicians. Differential attainment occurs in medical school and persists after graduation. What this study adds: Although there were no gender/ethnic differences in research engagement amongst UK medical students, our study suggests that female students were less likely to be interested in pursuing an academic career. Time constraints, a lack of awareness of opportunities, and difficulty in finding research supervisors/mentors were the most common barriers to research engagement, whereas PubMed-indexed authorship was the strongest positive predictor of interest in an academic career. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: Medical schools should facilitate the selection of good-quality research mentors that would provide adequate support to ensure that their students' works are published in peer-reviewed journals. Medical schools should employ local research officers to increase students' awareness of research opportunities.

Predictors of self-reported research self-efficacy and perception of research amongst medical students in the United Kingdom: a national cross-sectional survey.

PURPOSE: There has been a decline in the number of academic clinicians in the UK, and there are ethnic/gender disparities in the academic workforce. Higher research self-efficacy (RSE) and a positive perception of research (PoR) amongst students are associated with a higher motivation to engage in academic medicine. Hence, this study aimed to determine the factors that influence RSE and PoR amongst UK medical students. METHODS: This is a multicentre cross-sectional survey of medical students in 36 UK medical schools in the 2020/21 academic year. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the association between students' demographics and RSE/PoR. P-values less than a Bonferroni-corrected significance level of .05/28 = .0018 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In total, 1573 individuals participated from 36 medical schools. There were no ethnic differences in PoR or RSE scores. Although there were no gender differences in PoR, female students had lower RSE scores than male students (adjusted ß = -1.75; 95% CI: -2.62, -0.89). Research experience before medical school (adjusted ß = 3.02; 95% CI: 2.11, 3.93), being in the clinical training phase (adjusted ß = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.90), and completing a degree before medical school (adjusted ß = 3.66; 95% CI: 2.23, 5.09) were associated with higher RSE. CONCLUSION: There were no associations between the predictor variables and PoR. Female students had lower self-reported RSE scores. Future studies should investigate the role of targeted research mentorship in improving RSE amongst female medical students.

Predictors of self-reported research productivity amongst medical students in the United Kingdom: a national cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The number of academic clinicians in the UK is declining and there are demographic inequalities in the clinical-academic workforce. Increased research productivity by medical students is believed to reduce future attrition in the clinical-academic workforce. Thus, this study investigated the association between student demographics and research productivity amongst UK medical students. METHODS: This is a national multicentre cross-sectional study of UK medical students in the 2020/21 academic year. We appointed one student representative per medical school, and they disseminated a 42-item online questionnaire over nine weeks, through departmental emails and social media advertisements. The outcome measures were: (i) publications (yes/no) (ii) number of publications (iii) number of first-authored publications (iv) abstract presentation (yes/no). We utilised multiple logistic and zero-inflated Poisson regression analyses to test for associations between the outcome measures and predictor variables at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: There are 41 medical schools in the UK. We received 1573 responses from 36 UK medical schools. We failed to recruit student representatives from three newly formed medical schools, whilst two medical schools prohibited us from sending the survey to their students. Women had lower odds of having a publication (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33-0.85) and on average had fewer first-author publications than men (IRR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37-0.89). Compared to white students, mixed-ethnicity students had greater odds of having a publication (OR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.67-5.59), an abstract presentation (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.37-3.26), and on average had a greater number of publications (IRR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.02-3.43). On average, students who attended independent UK secondary schools had a higher rate of first-author publications compared to those that attended state secondary schools (IRR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.23-3.15). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that there are gender, ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in research productivity among UK medical students. To tackle this, and potentially improve diversity in clinical academia, we recommend that medical schools should facilitate targeted high quality research mentorship, funding and training, especially for under-represented-in-medicine students.

Urinary Retention in a Female With Subacute Combined Spinal Cord Degeneration and Vaginal Infibulation.

Urinary retention is a common urological condition that is more prevalent in men. It is characterized by the inability to urinate and has numerous causes. This case report describes a 29-year-old female who was admitted with a history of nitrous oxide (NO) abuse and was diagnosed with subacute combined spinal cord degeneration (SACD). The patient was found to have female genital mutilation (FGM; infibulation), which was complicated by acute urinary retention. After unsuccessful urethral catheterization, a supra-pubic catheter was inserted with no post-operative complication. The patient is currently awaiting further discussion and recommendations from a multidisciplinary team for definitive care.

A Rare and Late Complication of Subureteric Teflon Injection With Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid/Dextranomer Gel.

Primary non-syndromic vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the commonest paediatric anomaly of the urinary tract. Complications of high-grade VUR include recurrent urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, reflux nephropathy, and irreversible renal failure. The primary aim of its management centres on minimizing the number of urinary tract infections and renal scarring via surgical correction or continuous antibiotic prophylaxis. A rare complication of surgical treatment by subureteric Teflon injection with non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid/dextranomer gel (NASHA/Dx) is ureteric obstruction. We report the case of a 38-year-old female who was diagnosed with ureteric obstruction secondary to subureteric injection with Deflux injection 30 years after endoscopic correction of VUR. She was successfully treated with ureteric reimplantation. Although considered efficient and safe, subureteric injection of bulking agent Deflux can be associated with delayed ureteric obstruction. This case highlights the need for long-term follow-up to allow timely detection and management of delayed ureteric obstruction. The possibility of late complication must also be addressed when obtaining pre-operative informed consent.

Spontaneous renal tract rupture from obstructing vesico-ureteric junction calculus.

Spontaneous or non-traumatic rupture of the renal tract is an infrequent presentation, and it is most frequently caused by ureteric obstruction. Rupture could occur at any level of the upper urinary tract. However, it is most common at the renal calyces and complications that could arise include; urinoma, and or hematoma collection which could progress to abscess formation and sepsis. We report a 77-year-old male patient who attended the emergency department following referral from his general practitioner with a 6-day history of progressively worsening left sided abdominal pain. Due to his co-morbidities, presenting blood pressure and age, he was suspected of having an aortic dissection or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and subsequently had a CT (computed tomography) Angiogram. This showed extravasation of contrast from the left kidney with a 12 mm obstructing vesico-ureteric junction calculus necessitating urgent urology referral and prompt review. He was worked up for a ureteric double J stent insertion, however, the procedure was unsuccessful due to complex multiple urethral strictures. The patient subsequently had a nephrostomy inserted and was planned for optical urethrotomy, rigid cystoscopy, rigid/flexible ureteroscopy, and laser stone fragmentation of left obstructing vesico-ureteric junction calculus.

Bilateral Ureteric Obstruction Due to Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: A Case Report.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disease with a largely unknown aetiology, varying presentation, and is characterized by fibrous tissue formation in the retroperitoneal region. It causes entrapment and obstruction of retroperitoneal tubular structures, notably the ureters, and has been associated with autoimmune disorders. We report a 52-year-old male who was admitted to the emergency department with a seven-day history of lower abdominal pain, anorexia, and unintentional weight loss. Routine blood work revealed the patient to have acute kidney injury, and an unenhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed bilateral hydronephrosis (grades 1 and 3 on the right and left, respectively) caused by a soft tissue mass in the retroperitoneal region. This mass was investigated with further imaging and a core biopsy, which confirmed retroperitoneal fibrosis. He is currently being planned for ureterolysis after a poor response to steroid therapy under the nephrology team. Urinary diversion was achieved with bilateral nephrostomies following unsatisfactory drainage with bilateral ureteric stents. This case highlights some of the difficulties that may be encountered in the management of retroperitoneal fibrosis.