The association between health professionals’ international experience and the academic output of their students in Harbin, China

BACKGROUND: It is common practice for health professionals in China to have international experience. However, the association between such experience and these professionals’ students’ scientific research ability has not previously been evaluated. Our study aimed to quantify this association among the students of health professionals in China. METHODS: We constructed a self-administered questionnaire and distributed it to all students at Harbin Medical University and its affiliated hospitals, including 257 students (Group A) of health professionals who had studied overseas (“returning” professionals) and 257 age-, enrollment year-, and specialty-matched students (Group B) of health professionals who had not studied overseas (“resident” professionals). SPSS software was used for the data entry and analysis. RESULTS: The total impact factor (IF) for articles published during their PhD study was 1031.68 in Group A and 727.65 in Group B (P = 0.001), and the number of articles was 297 in Group A and 228 in Group B (P = 0.040). The total IF for articles published by the 151 clinical medicine students of returning professionals during their PhD study was positively correlated with their advisor’s total IF for articles published while abroad (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that medical students may benefit from their advisors’ international experience. Medical education administrators and the government could encourage clinical professionals to study overseas and to prolong the duration of their study abroad. Medical students should consider potential advisors’ overseas experience when choosing a mentor.