Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Barriers Toward Research Among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire-based Survey

Introduction: Research in medicine has an impact on prevention, diagnosis, and newer treatment for the medical ailments. It has brought reforms in policies for health-care programs. Involvement of undergraduates in research was less, so this study was planned to determine the factors and their perception toward the same.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate knowledge, attitude, experience, and the barriers of research among medical undergraduates.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted after the protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee and obtaining written informed consent from participants. The predesigned validated questionnaire containing 34 questions was used. Filled questionnaires were received from the medical undergraduates of different phases of MBBS from our institute. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: A total of 89% (267/300) responded, 140/267 were females. The knowledge score regarding the concept of research and its methodology was 2405/3458 (70%). Sixty percent strongly agreed to include research in undergraduate curriculum, 57% believed that it would facilitate better understanding of the subject and clinical practice (41%). Nearly 56% opined that research was not waste of time and does not interfere in studies. Barriers for research were lack of awareness (53%), interest (54%), funds (62%), time (59%), and difficulty in follow-up of patients (67%). Almost 59% of students disagreed to lack of encouragement by faculty.

Conclusion: Most of the participants had knowledge regarding research and expressed positive attitude toward involvement in research activity. Some of barriers were lack of awareness, time, funds, and difficulty in patient follow-up.