Perceptions of Skills, Experience, and Attitudes on the Conduct of Research: a View Across the Continuum of Medical Learners in Kentucky’s Three Medical Schools

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish baseline measures of student and trainee needs and attitudes, perception of institutional climate, and self-reported skills relating to research among Kentucky’s two allopathic and one osteopathic schools of medicine. Method: This mixed methods study used an instrument developed and published by Brannan et al. (Med SCi Ed 22:151–161, 2012). All medical students, residents, and fellows in Kentucky (N = 2,646) were invited to participate in a web-based survey. Scaled replies were compared using two-way ANOVA, and open-ended data was summarized using a variation of Glaser and Straus constant comparison (Pandit 1996). Results: There were similarities regarding medical students’ research needs and attitudes and self-reported skill levels across all three schools, but with differences in perceptions of research climate as osteopathic students rated themselves lower than allopathic students (p < 0.001). Fellows’ means differed from students’ and residents’ in the “Needs and Attitudes” domain (p = 0.040) and in “Skills” (p < 0.001). Qualitative data showed a clear trend toward valuing academic productivity such as “exploring issues and solving problems” and “publishing and presenting” as more pervasive “bricks and mortar” issues such as lab space—an issue that was never mentioned. Conclusions: The most important application of the findings may be as baseline learner data as allopathic and osteopathic medical communities commit to a single graduate medical education accreditation system (Brennan et al. 2014), where understanding research is an essential skill.