SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH; KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS TOWARDS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

Objectives: The primary objective of our study is to assess the existing level knowledge and attitudes towards scientific research amongst medical students of a medical college in Lahore. Study Design: Quantitative descriptive questionnaire-based survey. Period: June to September 2017 on fourth year and final year students of MBBS. Setting: Medical College in Lahore. Methods: After informed consent and briefing, the questionnaire was distributed to the participants. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: A total of 200 students were contacted out of which 102 responded (response rate51%). The result showed that the knowledge assessment score of final year was lower than fourth year but the difference was not statistically significant. The knowledge was low in both the groups. Attitude score was slightly higher in 4th year as compared to 5th year. Conclusion: The study indicated less knowledge but positive attitude of medical students towards scientific research. Moreover, the culture of research needs to be developed in our undergraduate medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]