RESEARCH CAPACITY AND CULTURE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MBBS STUDENTS IN MEDICAL COLLEGES OF RAWALPINDI

Abstract

Introduction: Involvement in research among medical students is a vital parameter in academic skills development and medical knowledge development. Nevertheless, institutional support, mentorship, and access to resources are among several factors that can have a large influence on the engagement of students in research activities.

Objective: To assess the factors influencing research involvement among medical students, focusing on institutional support, faculty mentorship, access to resources, and barriers to research participation.

Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study done at Rawalpindi Medical University, Pakistan between January to June 2025. A questionnaire that participants self-administered was issued to 260 undergraduate medical students. The demographic information was gathered using the questionnaire, perceptions on the institutional support, mentorship, research barriers, and motivation towards research. The SPSS version 22 was used in analyzing the responses.

Results: The response rate was 85.6% and the mean age was 22.1 ± 2.3 years. Research involvement in personal faculty support (p < 0.001) and access to resources (p < 0.001) was found to significantly predict research involvement. Research engagement was also positively correlated with mentorship (p < 0.05). The constraint of time and financial aspects was discovered as a hindrance to the research participation. Students who felt better institutional support in their perception were more likely to have been engaged in research.

Conclusion:  The research demonstrated that faculty support and resource availability are crucial for promoting research participation, yet challenges such as time constraints and funding issues persist, suggesting the need for medical schools to implement policies that address these barriers and enhance mentorship.