Assessment of the self-perception of the research role of medical students in universities in Ecuador

Introduction: The promotion of quality research at the university level implies the strengthening of the training of professionals who master the scientific method and knowledge, and this is especially necessary in a scenario where there are limited competencies and capacities to update and perfect procedures that improve the health of the population. Objective: To assess the self-perception of the research role of medical students. Method: A total of 105 university students exposed to learning topics about research methodology during their academic training from their first level to their pre-professional internships, at the universities of San Gregorio de Portoviejo, Guayaquil, and others, were investigated through a questionnaire conducted in GoogleForm, disseminated through teachers and group leaders. Results: 80% of the respondents were female, 40.4% stated that their level of training is lower in relation to developed countries, 7.7% had committed fraud at some time, 7.7% could not imagine doing research work, while 46.2% indicated that 15.4% give medium importance to the training of doctors-researchers. 61.5% consider that they have an average ability to formulate research problems, and another 11.5% declare that it is low.Conclusions: The strengthening of the teaching-learning process of research methodology issues should include, in its design, how to deal with negative manifestations associated with self-discrimination limiting to reach the category of researcher and the habit of plagiarism recognized as a lack of academic and professional ethics.