Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South India

BACKGROUND: Biomedical research is not given adequate attention during undergraduation due to the failure of the medical curriculum to motivate the students to take up research, teach the research methodology, and emphasize the scope of research in the future. Our objective was to study the percepti...

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Main Authors: Gaurang Narayan, Anandaraj Rajagopal, Lopamudra Moharana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2023;volume=12;issue=1;spage=33;epage=33;aulast=Narayan
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author Gaurang Narayan
Anandaraj Rajagopal
Lopamudra Moharana
author_facet Gaurang Narayan
Anandaraj Rajagopal
Lopamudra Moharana
author_sort Gaurang Narayan
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Biomedical research is not given adequate attention during undergraduation due to the failure of the medical curriculum to motivate the students to take up research, teach the research methodology, and emphasize the scope of research in the future. Our objective was to study the perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research and to explore the facilitators and barriers to biomedical research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an explanatory, sequential, mixed-method study. Consenting medical undergraduate students, irrespective of their previous contribution to research, were interviewed by a pretested questionnaire concerning biomedical research, its barriers, and facilitators. For the qualitative component, two focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among students in the nonclinical and clinical phases. Data were analyzed and expressed as percentages. Thematic manual content analysis of the transcribed manuscripts was performed. RESULTS: This study included 553 participants. Only 5.52% had previous experience undertaking research. Self-interest and acquiring deeper knowledge were identified as drivers. Lack of motivation, proper guidance, and training in research methodology was found to be the barrier among 90% of the subjects. The FGD reflected the perceptions of students and variations in their ideologies toward taking up research. CONCLUSION: It becomes important to analyze the factors that promote or avert a student from taking up research. A thorough investigation in this regard will be helpful for future cohorts of medical students and will impact their decisions on taking up research and in seeking a career in research-based fields.
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spelling doaj.art-8f25e19584ad433bafd3b26bd67729542023-02-16T12:27:09ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312023-01-01121333310.4103/jehp.jehp_829_22Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South IndiaGaurang NarayanAnandaraj RajagopalLopamudra MoharanaBACKGROUND: Biomedical research is not given adequate attention during undergraduation due to the failure of the medical curriculum to motivate the students to take up research, teach the research methodology, and emphasize the scope of research in the future. Our objective was to study the perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research and to explore the facilitators and barriers to biomedical research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an explanatory, sequential, mixed-method study. Consenting medical undergraduate students, irrespective of their previous contribution to research, were interviewed by a pretested questionnaire concerning biomedical research, its barriers, and facilitators. For the qualitative component, two focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among students in the nonclinical and clinical phases. Data were analyzed and expressed as percentages. Thematic manual content analysis of the transcribed manuscripts was performed. RESULTS: This study included 553 participants. Only 5.52% had previous experience undertaking research. Self-interest and acquiring deeper knowledge were identified as drivers. Lack of motivation, proper guidance, and training in research methodology was found to be the barrier among 90% of the subjects. The FGD reflected the perceptions of students and variations in their ideologies toward taking up research. CONCLUSION: It becomes important to analyze the factors that promote or avert a student from taking up research. A thorough investigation in this regard will be helpful for future cohorts of medical students and will impact their decisions on taking up research and in seeking a career in research-based fields.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2023;volume=12;issue=1;spage=33;epage=33;aulast=Narayanbarriersbiomedical researchcurriculumfacilitatorsperceptionsundergraduate (ug)
spellingShingle Gaurang Narayan
Anandaraj Rajagopal
Lopamudra Moharana
Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South India
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
barriers
biomedical research
curriculum
facilitators
perceptions
undergraduate (ug)
title Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South India
title_full Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South India
title_fullStr Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South India
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South India
title_short Perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research – A sequential, explanatory, mixed-method study from Puducherry, South India
title_sort perceptions of medical undergraduate students toward biomedical research a sequential explanatory mixed method study from puducherry south india
topic barriers
biomedical research
curriculum
facilitators
perceptions
undergraduate (ug)
url http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2023;volume=12;issue=1;spage=33;epage=33;aulast=Narayan
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