PERCEPTION AND BARRIERS TO MEDICAL RESEARCH AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF A PRIVATE MEDICAL COLLEGE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i4.1880Keywords:
Medical, Perception, Practice, Research, StudentsAbstract
Background: Research is a core component of medical education, yet its practice among students is often influenced by their perceptions and constrained by institutional, academic, and personal barriers. Objective of this study was to assess these parameters in students of a private medical school. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2023 to April 2024, with a sample of 493 MBBS students at Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad. The data were collected using a validated questionnaire aimed at assessing perception about research, personal and institutional barriers. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. The normality of data was determined using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Mann-Whitney U-test was used for two-group comparison, Kruskal-Wallis test for multiple-group comparison, and Spearman’s rho test for correlation analysis. Results: The mean perception score was moderately positive (3.41±0.76), while personal (3.12±0.89) and institutional (3.20±1.10) barrier scores were relatively high. The age of students was associated with higher personal barriers (U=22,959.5, p<0.001). Day scholars reported more positive perceptions than hostelites (U=16,907.5, p=0.006). Across classes, perception (H=19.84, p=0.001) and personal barriers (H=33.58, p<0.001) demonstrated significant differences, with first-year students reporting higher perception and senior students reporting higher barriers. The Spearman’s correlation identified weak but significant positive associations of perception with both personal (p=0.167) and institutional barriers (p=0.169) and a strong positive correlation of personal with institutional barriers (p=0.549; p<0.01). Conclusions: Students showed generally positive perception toward medical research but aced significant personal and institutional barriers.
Pak J Physiol 2025;21(4):49–52, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i4.1880
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohi Ud Din, Maryam Saeed, Maria Shaukat, Memona Iftikhar, Iqra Faryal, Zainab Shahzad
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