A study on perception regarding medical research among final year medical students

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, in medicine and education field, a paradigm shift has been noticed from experience-based to evidence-based practice. Evidence-based medical practice is based on research, which translates new knowledge into powerful tools for prevention and treatment of disease. Increase in clinical and biomedical research is essential for continuing advances in health care and develop new initiatives. To ensure that the best possible care is provided to patients, research evidence is very important. Students and practitioners should update them regarding recent knowledge. To help foster scientific thoughts and nurture evidence-based practice in clinical settings, research experience is very important. Materials and method: All the medical students of Final Year M.B.B.S. were selected for the study. Out of 290 students,281 give their consent for study. So the total number of study subjects were 281.Ehical clearance was taken from the College Ethical Committee before study. The questionnaire given to student consisted of three sections. The first open section sought information regarding students age, gender, and residence. Section two comprised of close-ended questions focusing on students knowledge and atitude towards research. The last section was also close-ended and aimed to identify barriers towards research as perceived by the students. Results: Most of the students were in the age group of 24-26 yrs (61.57%). Most of the students were female (59.43%).Medical research journal reading habit was found in 39.86% students. Students reading medical journals frequency was poor. Interestingly, majority (45.91%) felt the need for reading journals as part of curriculum only. 37.01% students reading journals out of interest. Overall information regarding Medline indexed medical research journals was very poor.. Only 13.17% students were currently part of any ongoing research project and only 4.6% had any manuscript published or anticipated under name at the time of conduct of the study. 69.40% students desired research as part of basic medical education. Students give lack of research training (20.28%) as principal barrier towards medical research. Conclusion: The present study shows that medical students have positive attitudes towards research despite poor knowledge and awareness of research methods and scientific communication. Thus, there is an urgent need to emphasize the importance of research and to undertake professional programs preparing students as well as supervisors for this task Evolving medical science necessitates research training to be considered as an essential and fundamental component, ‘an underlying principle’, in an innovative undergraduate medical curriculum. It is important to teach undergraduate students the full scientific publishing process, including the peer review process, the format for scientific articles and the necessary skills in word processing.