Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, and Perceived Barriers to Research among Undergraduate Medical Students

Abstract Background: Medical research is the cornerstone of healthcare progress, enabling the development of evidence-based clinical practices. The present study set out to assess medical students’ understanding of research, explore their attitudes toward it, measure their participation in research projects, identify challenges to engagement, and evaluate their knowledge of and involvement in the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) short-term studentship (STS) program. Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved 160 undergraduate medical students and interns. Information was obtained through a self-completed online questionnaire distributed through a secure digital survey platform. The survey covered demographic details, knowledge and attitudes regarding research, research experience, perceived barriers, and aspects related to the ICMR STS program. Data were analyzed using Jamovi software. Results: The study found that 61.9% of students demonstrated good knowledge of research concepts. While a majority (96.9%) recognized the importance of research, only 55% expressed interest in pursuing it as a career. Most students (90%) had experience in writing research proposals and 85% had collected data but fewer had experience in data analysis (51.9%), presentations (25%), or publications (13.1%). The most commonly reported barriers were time constraints (63.1%) and lack of resources (50%). Only 12.5% of students had participated in the ICMR STS program. Conclusion: The study underscores the need to enhance research opportunities, address time constraints, improve resource accessibility, and strengthen mentorship programs. Addressing these barriers can foster a stronger research culture among medical students, which can ultimately improve the quality of clinical practice and healthcare.