Research management skills in medical PHD education: A cross-sectional study from Ukraine

Aim: To characterise Ukrainian PhD students' research management skills, the difficulties experienced in Ukrainian medical PhD education, and to provide insights into potential directions for improving medical education.

Materials and Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample. In 2025, the authors surveyed 118 medical PhD students of Bogomolets National Medical University to evaluate their research management competence and attitudes towards it. The authors offered a 17-item questionnaire on research management. To process the data, the authors used descriptive and thematic analysis.

Results: This study shows that medical PhD students at Bogomolets National Medical University generally recognise the importance of research management skills for successful doctoral training. However, attitudes towards these skills remain fragmented, and recognition of their value does not translate into confidence or effective practice. The findings reveal significant gaps in strategic planning, adaptability to change, bureaucratic communication, self-discipline, and the ethical use of digital tools such as artificial intelligence. Research management effectiveness relies mainly on external control and personal self-regulation rather than structured curricular support.

Conclusions: The research management skills of Ukrainian medical PhD students should be conceptualised not as their individual psychological capacity but as a competence shaped by educational design, mentoring structures, ethical training, and career support. The results support the need for curricular integration of research management as a structured competence area, including training in planning, adaptability, communication, academic integrity, and the responsible use of digital tools.