Factors influencing the medical students??? overall satisfaction about research training programs offered in Saudi universities: An exploratory study

Abstract

Ahmed Al Kuwaiti

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the factors influencing medical students’ overall satisfaction about research training programs offered in Saudi Universities. Materials and Methods: Medical students [N=207] belonging to seven Saudi universities were the focus of this study. A pre-tested questionnaire tool was used to capture the student responses on a five point Likert scale with respect to three factors viz (i) extent of research activities offered; (ii) involvement of faculty in research and, (iii) infrastructural facilities offered for research. A stepwise regression model was used to predict the overall satisfaction and the other explanatory variables. Results: The students overall satisfaction in research is likely to be influenced by three variables such as the infrastructural facilities offered for research (Coefficient of β is 0.187 and p<0.01); funding offered by the university for conducting research at the undergraduate level (Coefficient of β is 0.179 and p<0.01) and the emphasis put by the faculty for research (Coefficient of β is 0.282 and p<0.01). Conclusion: The variables such as infrastructural facilities, research funding and the emphasis placed by the faculty for research have significant impact on the medical students’ overall satisfaction about the research training programs offered in selected Saudi Universities.