Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceived barriers towards research in undergraduate medical students of six Arab countries
Authors: Assar Ahmed , Matar Sajeda Ghassan , Hasabo Elfatih A. , Elsayed Sarah Makram , Zaazouee Mohamed Sayed , Hamdallah Aboalmagd , Elshanbary Alaa Ahmed , Khaled Asmaa , Badr Helmy , Abukmail Hanan , Ragab Khaled Mohamed , Soliman Shaimaa Sherif ,   IMedRA team of collaborators, Asma Hamel , Benhabiles Wiame , Sahraoui Imane , Drid Boutheyna , Bakhtaoui Imane , Hamidi Nadia , Boulemssamer Mississilia , Salem Nour , Alawneh Yazan Omar , Al-tahayneh Sief-Addeen Ziad , Qaddoura Malak Eyad Abu , Aladwan Hala , Obada Ahmad Obada Ahmad , Nasr Khulood , Aldrini Mahmoud Aref Aref , Salhab Nataly Mazen Mazen , Safarini Omar A. A. , Dia Sami , yehiankhala Sadi , Abuiriban Yousef Maher Maher , Salhab Nataly Mazen Mazen , Al-kfarna Mohammed , Mansour Rasha , Alfathi Maria Nabil Nabil , Mahfoud Rania Moh Hafez , Jomaa Sami , Ibrahim Mais Amin Amin , Shbani Abd , Younes Rand Safwan Safwan , Alkodsi Abeer Hassan Hassan , Abdul-Baki Mohammad-Nasan , Douedari Alma , Mahmoud Mai Deyaeldin Mohamed , AbdAlrhman Mona muhe eldeen eshag , Mohamed Nosuiba Hamad Jumaa , Hussain Delas , Hassan Mohamed Marey yahya , Ammar Noha Ahmed Ahmed , Rizk Marwa Abdelazim Abdelazim , AbdElazeem Hossam Aldein Samir , Mohammed Ahmed Essam Helmy , Abdelbadea Shaimaa , el-Ansarey Hussien Saad Saad , Maray Mariam Ahmed Ahmed , Sultan Ahmed , Farag Ahmed , Mohammed Manar Hamdy , shafik Maryam abd elmalak , Essam Mohamed , Hamdy Asia , Usama Karim , Sakr Yara 
Published: January 2022

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.