Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Toward Research Among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study in Turkey

Scientific research is essential in medicine to practice evidence-based medicine and improve healthcare quality. Research experience enables students to hone their skills in thinking critically, understanding data, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of scientific articles.

This study aims to determine knowledge, attitudes, and barriers toward research and assess research participation experience among medical students in Turkey.

We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical students in Turkey. Data was collected using an online self-administered questionnaire.

A total of 487 students, 65.1% female, completed the questionnaire. The majority of students (78.9%) showed a poor level of knowledge regarding research, although 23.2% had previously participated in a research project. Females reported significantly higher positive attitude scores (32.2 versus 31.3, p = 0.034) than males. Graduates of high schools based abroad had substantially lower knowledge scores than Anatolian, Science, and Private High School graduates (1.4 versus 2.7, 2.6, 2.4; p < 0.001). Students with experience in a research project had significantly higher knowledge scores (2.7 versus 2.3, p = 0.045). Students who wish to participate in a scientific research project in their future career had both substantially higher positive attitude scores (32.4 versus 29.6, p < 0.001) and knowledge scores (2.5 versus 1.8, p < 0.001) than those with no interest.

Most participants had a positive attitude but lacked research knowledge. Some perceived barriers were lack of funding, time, proper mentoring, laboratories, and facilities. Developing better training systems may help to convert students’ positive attitudes toward research into improved knowledge, practices, and overcoming research barriers.