Needs analysis of biomedical research paper writing skills: a comparative study of medical undergraduates and doctoral students

Although the importance of academic writing skills for medical students has been recognized, there is a lack of systematic investigation into students’ learning needs, particularly for students at different stages of their education. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing 305 questionnaires from 137 undergraduates and 168 doctoral students at a medical school in a Chinese university. The questionnaires primarily gathered perceptions of general academic writing skills, language problems, and classroom activities. The findings revealed that while undergraduates and doctoral students share similar perceptions regarding classroom activities, they exhibit distinct needs concerning most general academic writing skills and skills associated with language problems. These findings suggest that the varying learning needs among different student groups should be considered when developing syllabi and programs for medical English education. Pedagogical implications are discussed.