The 2026 RIME foreword: a decade of Research in Medical Education (RIME): trends and future directions

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Research
• Scholarly Publishing
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Medical education research has matured as a distinct field since the 1950s.
• The Research in Medical Education (RIME) program has significantly influenced the field's rigor and inclusivity.
• Examining RIME articles from 2016-2025 offers insights into recent trends in medical education research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the evolution of medical education research over the past decade (2016-2025) using RIME articles as a lens.
• To explore trends in research topics, methodologies, theoretical frameworks, and practical applications within medical education.
• To identify patterns that can inform future advancements in scholarly excellence and inclusivity in the field.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of 135 Research in Medical Education (RIME) program articles published between 2016 and 2025.
• Categorization of articles based on key areas: topics, methodology, theory, and application to practice.
• Quantitative assessment of the frequency and trends of different research elements over the decade.

Main Results:

• Most common topics included assessment (25%), learning environment (20%), and instructional design (16%).
• Qualitative research (40%) was the predominant methodology, with a decline in quantitative studies and an rise in review articles.
• Theory use increased significantly (25% to 88%), while application to practice remained consistent.

Conclusions:

• Medical education research is increasingly characterized by qualitative approaches and robust theoretical grounding.
• The findings highlight the sustained importance of applying research to practical educational settings.
• These insights are crucial for guiding the future direction of medical education research, emphasizing scholarly excellence, inclusion, and support for emerging researchers.