Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries
Abstract Background The involvement of the undergraduates in the research field requires a better view of their potential and the anticipated barriers facing them. This study aims to assess the undergraduates' knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in six Arab c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03121-3 |
| _version_ | 1819261445399904256 |
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| author | Ahmed Assar Sajeda Ghassan Matar Elfatih A. Hasabo Sarah Makram Elsayed Mohamed Sayed Zaazouee Aboalmagd Hamdallah Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary Asmaa Khaled Helmy Badr Hanan Abukmail Khaled Mohamed Ragab Shaimaa Sherif Soliman IMedRA team of collaborators |
| author_facet | Ahmed Assar Sajeda Ghassan Matar Elfatih A. Hasabo Sarah Makram Elsayed Mohamed Sayed Zaazouee Aboalmagd Hamdallah Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary Asmaa Khaled Helmy Badr Hanan Abukmail Khaled Mohamed Ragab Shaimaa Sherif Soliman IMedRA team of collaborators |
| author_sort | Ahmed Assar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The involvement of the undergraduates in the research field requires a better view of their potential and the anticipated barriers facing them. This study aims to assess the undergraduates' knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in six Arab countries. Methods A cross sectional study included medical students from six Arab countries, where a self-administered five-section questionnaire was used to assess the students' demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers. The questionnaire was distributed in the online educational platforms of the participating medical schools in the six included countries. Results The total sample of recruited students was 2989, the majority of students (91.6%) showed poor level of knowledge regarding research. Generally high levels of positive attitudes towards research, research relevance and usefulness were found, with moderate levels of perception of research anxiety and difficulty. 33.7% (n = 1006) participated in an actual research project before with a mean of .5 publications per student. Cross-sectional studies were the most common type of studies conducted by students (38.6%), followed by case reports (23.9%). Lack of access to lab equipment for lab research (68.1%), the priority of education over research (66.8%), and lack of time because of educational tasks (66.1%) were generally the top perceived barriers towards research practice. Conclusion In the current study, the participants showed a poor knowledge level with associated positive attitudes towards research. One third of the students participated in research projects that mostly were cross-sectional studies and case reports. Educational tasks and lack of support were the most prevalent barriers. The students' positive attitudes towards research need to be translated into better knowledge and appropriate practice, which can be done by development of better training systems and more structured mentoring. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:41:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56ca6f6537774e0f8887ebfb29c19913 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:41:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-56ca6f6537774e0f8887ebfb29c199132022-12-21T17:33:38ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202022-01-0122111110.1186/s12909-022-03121-3Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countriesAhmed Assar0Sajeda Ghassan Matar1Elfatih A. Hasabo2Sarah Makram Elsayed3Mohamed Sayed Zaazouee4Aboalmagd Hamdallah5Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary6Asmaa Khaled7Helmy Badr8Hanan Abukmail9Khaled Mohamed Ragab10Shaimaa Sherif Soliman11IMedRA team of collaboratorsInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityInternational Medical Research Association (IMedRA), Al-Azhar UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Menoufia UniversityAbstract Background The involvement of the undergraduates in the research field requires a better view of their potential and the anticipated barriers facing them. This study aims to assess the undergraduates' knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in six Arab countries. Methods A cross sectional study included medical students from six Arab countries, where a self-administered five-section questionnaire was used to assess the students' demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers. The questionnaire was distributed in the online educational platforms of the participating medical schools in the six included countries. Results The total sample of recruited students was 2989, the majority of students (91.6%) showed poor level of knowledge regarding research. Generally high levels of positive attitudes towards research, research relevance and usefulness were found, with moderate levels of perception of research anxiety and difficulty. 33.7% (n = 1006) participated in an actual research project before with a mean of .5 publications per student. Cross-sectional studies were the most common type of studies conducted by students (38.6%), followed by case reports (23.9%). Lack of access to lab equipment for lab research (68.1%), the priority of education over research (66.8%), and lack of time because of educational tasks (66.1%) were generally the top perceived barriers towards research practice. Conclusion In the current study, the participants showed a poor knowledge level with associated positive attitudes towards research. One third of the students participated in research projects that mostly were cross-sectional studies and case reports. Educational tasks and lack of support were the most prevalent barriers. The students' positive attitudes towards research need to be translated into better knowledge and appropriate practice, which can be done by development of better training systems and more structured mentoring.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03121-3KnowledgeAttitudesPracticesUndergraduate researchMedical research |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Assar Sajeda Ghassan Matar Elfatih A. Hasabo Sarah Makram Elsayed Mohamed Sayed Zaazouee Aboalmagd Hamdallah Alaa Ahmed Elshanbary Asmaa Khaled Helmy Badr Hanan Abukmail Khaled Mohamed Ragab Shaimaa Sherif Soliman IMedRA team of collaborators Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries BMC Medical Education Knowledge Attitudes Practices Undergraduate research Medical research |
| title | Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries |
| title_sort | knowledge attitudes practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six arab countries |
| topic | Knowledge Attitudes Practices Undergraduate research Medical research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03121-3 |
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