Obstacles and challenges encountered by undergraduate medical and dental students in pursuing research in a public sector university.

Abstract

Objective: To identify the common challenges obstructing undergraduate medical and dental students in pursuing research at Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), Karachi. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Jinnah Sindh Medical University. Period: October to December 2024. Methods: Study was conducted among 322 undergraduate medical and dental students from Sindh Medical College (SMC) and Sindh Institute of Oral Health Sciences (SIOHS). Data were collected through a structured questionnaire after informed consent. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed using SPSS v26. Results: Of the 322 participants, 64.9% were females and 27% had a GPA of 4.0. While most students (83.5%) expressed interest in research and 95.3% acknowledged its importance, only 55.6% had ever participated in a project, and just 15.8% had published their work. The most frequently reported barriers were lack of research skills (65.2%) and difficulty in selecting a topic (52.8%). No significant associations were observed between demographic variables and reported barriers. Conclusion: Despite positive attitudes toward research, undergraduate medical and dental students at JSMU face substantial challenges, particularly inadequate research skills and difficulties in topic selection. Universities should strengthen structured mentorship programs, provide research training workshops, and allocate institutional funding to foster a sustainable research culture in undergraduate education.