Perceptions of faculty and medical students regarding an undergraduate research culture activity in Myanmar: a qualitative study

This study explored the perceptions of faculty members and third-year medical students regarding the research culture activity (RCA), a program designed to engage undergraduates in research at the University of Medicine, Mandalay, Myanmar. It aimed to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and skills (KAS) gained, the challenges encountered, and suggestions for improvement. This qualitative study employed 4 semi-structured focus group discussions with 17 third-year medical students and 16 faculty members who participated in the 2020 RCA. Student responses related to KAS were analyzed using a deductive framework approach, while challenges and suggestions were examined through inductive thematic analysis. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim in Burmese, translated into English, and collaboratively coded using Atlas.ti version 9.0.5.