Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of the Undergraduate Medical Students Regarding Community Based Research

INTRODUCTION: Research environment in developing countries including India is witnessing a slow but positive rise. AIM: To assess the knowledge, attitude and perception of medical students regarding the community based research. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study employed a cross-sectional., community based research in Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Amalapuram and included a sample of 115 undergraduate students in the 3rd semester. Data was collected through a semi structured questionnaire and pilot testing was done and the questionnaire was finalised. The questionnaire tested the knowledge, attitude and perception regarding the community oriented research of the undergraduate students. Statistical analysis was done using Epi-info statistical software package version 3.5.4 RESULTS: Majority (84.34%) of the study participants were in the age group of 20-21 years of which 59.13% were females. Majority (82.6%) of them have good knowledge regarding steps in planning the research, and also regarding the study design, sample size calculation and graphical representation of data. Most of the students (53.9%) of them expressed epidemiology to be a very interesting subject and 66.1% of the students felt that community oriented research was interesting CONCLUSION: Community oriented research should be introduced early in the teaching curriculum to teach research methodology to undergraduate medical students and to instil confidence among them to work as independent researchers in the future.