A Needs Assessment for Training on Research Skills for Undergraduate Medical Students: A Mixed Methods Study

Background:The seven roles of an Indian medical graduate (IMG), as laid down by the National Medical Council (NMC), include a researcher.However, there is no separate module for training in research methodology and research ethics apart from the components being taught in the community medicine.The primary objective of the study is to study the perceptions of undergraduate (UG) medical students on learning research methodologies and ethics.The secondary objective is to determine the requirements of UG medical students in learning research methodologies and ethics.Materials and methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital among volunteer UG medical students about their perceptions of research, the need for formal training in research for the UG students, and the possibilities of conducting the training during their UG course.The study was conducted using a questionnaire, which was shared through Google Form with the volunteer students.A total of 360 students participated in the study.Results: 86.8% of students showed a strong interest in participating in the research.95.6% of students considered research as an essential part of the medical curriculum.Out of the 360 students, only 11.1% of students were involved in the research previously.91.9% of students expressed the need of the training in research, preferably across all the phases of MBBS as a one-time workshop.Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the development of a well-structured, phase-wise research training module for the UG medical students in India to fulfill the role of a researcher of an IMG.