A specialized academic career planning programme for strengthening the enthusiasm, resolve and innovation for dental students to engage in basic research: a cross-sectional and retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Basic research is essential for the development of dental science, and the demand for medical doctors involved in basic research is increasing. However, the enthusiasm and resolve to engage in basic science research has declined, as understanding the necessity of and conducting basic science research with clinical observations are challenging for students. In addition, the increasing need to implement cross-disciplinarity in dental research activities has even weakened research innovation. In response, the School of Stomatology launched a programme named the Academic Career Planning Course of Stomatology Students (ACPCSS) in 2022. This study evaluated the programme's effectiveness in enhancing dental students' enthusiasm, commitment, and innovation in basic research.

Methods: The programme has set up three modules to facilitate on-site or online lectures on the necessity of basic science in stomatology subdisciplines to strengthen students' enthusiasm, and the approaches of clinical-research integration to develop their resolve, and cross-disciplinary research innovation with dental science. In the cross-sectional study, questionnaires were distributed to evaluate the effect of the programme. Retrospective analyses compared academic performance-measured by publications and funded research projects-among students with different levels of lecture participation.

Results: To date, the programme has held 22 lectures, and a total of 3357 participants have attended. The participating dental students have engaged in more scientific activities, including publishing more research papers and multidisciplinary papers and acquiring more funded projects. ACPCSS is associated with improved dental students' awareness of the necessity of research, increased resolve to engage in basic science, and enhanced innovation in dental research.

Conclusion: The ACPCSS project has cultivated participants' enthusiasm, resolve, and innovative abilities in scientific research. This was accomplished through three dedicated training modules, which emphasized: the necessity of research in dental subspecialties, clinical research integration methodology, and cross-disciplinary research exploration.

Keywords: Academic career planning; Basic science; Clinician-researchers; Dental students.