Undergraduate Medical Students’ Knowledge about Principles of Research Methodology and Impact of Extracurricular Principles of Research Workshops: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Background: It is widely acknowledged that research is crucial for development of countries. Despite various studies on the benefits of research, there is no fresh study about students’ familiarity with principles of research methodology in developing countries.

Objectives: In this study, we aim to assess undergraduate medical students’ knowledge in principles of research methodology and its contributing factors.

Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, we investigated 65 randomly selected students who were in their basic science stage of medical studies at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2010. To determine knowledge about principles of research, participants filled a validated and reliable questionnaire. The characteristic information of the students and their answers to ten questions on research principles were collected. Linear regression models were applied to predict the score of knowledge of the participants.

Results: Median age of participants was 19 ranging from 17-21. 15 (25%) of participants were male and 45 (75%) were female. 45 (75%) of participants had not attended Students’ Scientific Research Center (SSRC) research methodology workshop. The mean of knowledge score was 6.99 ± 3.23 (out of 20). We observed no significant difference in knowledge of the students and also participation in SSRC research methodology workshop between two genders (P = 0.75 and 0.86, respectively). Linear regression model showed participation in research methodology workshop independently predicts 59% of variance of students’ knowledge about principles of research methodology and adding students’ semester to the model increases the prediction to 70%.

Conclusions: Despite limitations of this study, our findings highlight low to moderate level of knowledge of undergraduate medical students in principles of research methodology and the important impact of research methodology workshops.