Contribution of medical student research to the Medline-indexed publications of a German medical faculty

Med Educ. 1998 Jul;32(4):439-40. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2923.1998.00255.x.

Abstract

Medical students in Germany have to write a research thesis to acquire the title of medical doctor. This study evaluates the contribution of student research to the Medline-indexed publications of a German medical faculty. A 1993-1995 Medline-publication list, on which medical students among authors should be marked, was sent to medical faculty staff of the University of Würzburg, Germany (n = 238). Faculty members responded (106, 45%), 66 were working at a clinic, 26 at a clinic-associated institute and 14 at a basic science institute. Between 1993 and 1995, 1128 Medline-indexed papers were published by these faculty members, who on average supervised 4.5 medical students (n = 477). Medical students were among the authors of 316 (28%) and were the first authors of 88 papers (7.8%). For 66% of medical students their research resulted in a Medline-indexed publication. Medical student research activity can significantly influence the published output of a medical faculty.

MeSH terms

  • Faculty*
  • Germany
  • MEDLINE*
  • Research
  • Students, Medical