Development of research skills in medical students in Bolivia

Abstract

Introduction: Research competence is an essential component of medical education, as it strengthens skills in searching, critical analysis, hypothesis formulation, methodological design, and scientific communication. The objective of this review was to analyze recent literature on the development of research competence in medical students in Bolivia. Method: This work corresponds to an integrative documentary review and analysis, based on the search, selection, and critical analysis of peer-reviewed scientific publications. The methodology combines procedures from narrative and integrative reviews, following the recommendations of Whittemore and Knafl and the PRISMA guidelines—an acronym for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses—adapted for non-systematic reviews. The Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases were consulted, along with regional literature published between 2015 and 2025. Fifty-seven articles were identified, 30 were reviewed, and 12 were selected from the Bolivian context. Results: The results show that research training is linked to active teaching strategies, curriculum integration, tutoring, and institutional policies, although limitations in infrastructure and scientific culture persist. It is concluded that strengthening research skills requires institutionalizing research in curricula and consolidating teacher training in methodology.

Discussion: The importance of research competence in the professional training process is corroborated in the literature of prestigious researchers; especially in those who will graduate from the Medicine career.