Research programs for medical undergraduate students in Brazil: a systematic review

Abstract: Abstract: Undergraduate Research (UR) is the process of training and studying the scientific methodology or carrying out research under guidance. This practice is foreseen by the National Curriculum Guidelines of 2014, verified by the National Higher Education Assessment System and supported by the Medical Schools Accreditation System. UR has the potential to produce and allow the advancement of knowledge, as well as favoring the practice of Evidence-Based Medicine. Objective: to delineate the overview about research programs for medical students in Brazil, seeking the minimum requirements to characterize a UR and the potential and challenges in the Brazilian reality. Method: this is a systematic review study, carried out according to the PRISMA criteria from May to June 2021 in the SciELO, PubMed, VHL, Google Scholar and BDTD databases. A qualitative analysis of the selected articles was carried out through the evaluation of possible biases and organization into seven thematic categories: 1. institutional policies, 2. student engagement and interest, 3. challenges to research practice, 4. advisors, 5. effects and products of UR and 6. scientific training. Result: Twelve studies were included in the final analysis. Most of the investigated schools did not have structured UR programs, most of their students were interested in scientific research or in carrying out scientific studies. The main challenges to the practice of research by students were the lack of institutional stimulus, funding and adequate infrastructure. And, as an effect of UR, most students presented their research at conferences, but hardly published it in journals. Conclusion: UR is a program with activities that involve the application of the scientific method with great relevance to stimulate the performance of a research project with an ethical, technical and scientific nature. The most interesting political-social potential of participation in the UR is the demystification of postgraduate studies and academic careers, and the most present challenge in the Brazilian reality is the lack of institutional stimulus.