Resumen: Introducción: La investigación en el pregrado constituye una forma importante de preparar a los futuros profesionales para encauzar sus inquietudes científicas y la labor asistencial. Sin embargo, se desconocen los factores que influyen en la participación de los estudiantes en investigación. Objetivo: Determinar los factores socioeducativos asociados a la percepción de la investigación en estudiantes de estomatología de una universidad cubana. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio transversal-analítico, realizado en 166 estudiantes de estomatología. Los participantes recibieron un cuestionario anónimo, validado y autoadministrado para recoger información sobre la percepción de la investigación científica, que incluyó elementos relacionados con la redacción, la participación, la publicación científica y el interés de hacer una carrera de investigación en el futuro. A los que tuvieron una mejor percepción de la investigación se les consideró como interesados, y se les cruzó según sus variables socioeducativas, con estadísticos de asociación. Resultados: Los estudiantes mostraron una percepción positiva de la investigación científica; sin embargo, cuando se les preguntó si querían hacer una carrera de investigación en el futuro solo el 61,4% respondió afirmativamente. La percepción aumenta según progresan los años académicos (p<0,04), es mayor en los hombres (p=0,030) y en los estudiantes que realizan ayudantía en las cátedras de la carrera (p=0,001). Conclusiones: Existe una percepción positiva con respecto a la investigación científica, la cual aumentan conforme lo hacen los años académicos y otros factores; esto debe tomarse en cuenta para generar estrategias por parte de las instituciones educativas. Palabras Clave: investigación; estudiantes; medicina oral; estomatología; Cuba.

IntroductionTo determine the factors associated with interest in scientific research in dental students of six Cuban universities.MethodsThis is a multicenter cross-sectional analytical study. Interest in scientific research was the dependent variable, and it was assessed through a questionnaire proved to be reliable (Cronbach’s α = 0.88). We obtained adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and p values through generalized linear models.ResultsA total of 587 students were part of the research, and 57.9% manifested interest in scientific research. However, when they were asked if they wanted to pursue a research career in the future, only 45.1% responded affirmatively. We found, through multivariate analysis, that there was more interest in scientific research among those who were student assistants (aPR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.41–4.16; p = 0.001), those who had previous studies (aPR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.02–1.79; p = 0.034), and those who had received awards in scientific events (aPR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.26–2.41; p = 0.001). In contrast, there was less interest among those who were at the clinical stage of their career (aPR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49–0.89; p = 0.006), adjusted for seven variables.ConclusionsThere exists interest in scientific research and we found some factors associated with this. This has to be taken into account in order for educational institutions to generate strategies.

Introduction: It is very important to research into the reasons why students choose a career in Dentistry; however, current Cuban studies on this topic are scarce. This study aims to characterize the motivations for studying Dentistry and to identify the associated factors in Cuban students. Material and Methods: A total of 1324 students from nine Cuban universities participated in this cross-sectional, analytic, observational, multicenter and questionnaire-based study. The “Dental Motivation Scale”, a validated test, was used to measure social, altruistic, economic, and prestige motivators. For statistical analysis, frequencies and percentages were described, and generalized linear models were used to establish statistical associations. Results: Sixty six percent of the surveyed students were female and the mean age was 21.2. The students were more motivated to major in Dentistry by their desire to study for constant progress (57%) as well as the possibility of being able to help others (50%). Those who had relatives that were dentists had a lower social/altruistic motivation (studying for constant progress; p=0.004). Family pressure was associated with an increase in economic/prestige motivators: economic security (p=0.001), stable job (p<0.001) and reaching high social status (p<0.001). Conclusion: Students coming from families related to Dentistry were less motivated by social/altruistic aspects. Conversely, those with family pressure had a higher economic/prestige motivation.