Attitudes and Perceptions of Medical Students Regarding Scientific Research in Their Academic Training: An Exploratory Study in Paraguay
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Scientific research is a key component of medical education, as it promotes critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and academic development. However, medical students’ attitudes toward research, along with perceived barriers, can negatively impact their active participation in scientific activities. This cross-sectional exploratory study included 100 medical students from different academic years in Paraguay. A structured questionnaire was administered to assess sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes toward research (6 items), perceived barriers (8 items), and basic knowledge about scientific research (8 multiple-choice questions). The average age was 22.35 years; 51 % were male, and 82 % came from outside the capital region. Only 31 % agreed that research should be part of the medical curriculum, while another 31 % disagreed. A total of 38 % perceived biomedical research training as insufficient, and 45 % cited a lack of opportunities as a major barrier. Knowledge assessment revealed significant gaps: only 11 % correctly defined scientific truth, 25 % identified proper principles of scientific writing, and 29 % recognized MEDLINE as a medical database. Only 22 % of students had published a scientific article. Despite moderately favorable attitudes, significant barriers and limited knowledge persist, underscoring the need to strengthen research training through structured curricular strategies and sustained institutional support.
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