KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICES, AND PERCEIVED BARRIERS TOWARDS RESEARCH AMONG FINAL YEAR STUDENTS AND INTERNS OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE: A CROSS- SECTIONAL SURVEY STUDY

Abstract

Introduction                                                                                                                                 

Research is an extremely crucial element in advancement of medical science and for improvement in health care services. Though the progress in the field of Homoeopathic medicine is taking place at unparalleled pace, for global acceptance of Homoeopathy by the scientific fraternity research of internationally accepted standards must be conducted. India has the government approved education system of Homoeopathy and largest number of Homoeopathic institutes in the world. Being more than 200 years old and more than 75 years of institutionalised Homoeopathy in India, it is worth to find out the gaps or the barriers and solutions for the lack of its acceptance globally. Research training at institute level and building research skills of Homoeopathic students at undergraduate level can be a crucial step in improving research contribution of Homoeopathy, for its acceptance as a scientific system of medicine as well as improving the utility of Homoeopathy in health care system.   

Objective: To identify the Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, and Barriers towards research among final year Students and Interns of Homoeopathic Medical college.

Methods: A cross sectional survey study was conducted among 151 final year students and Interns from Homoeopathic Medical College by using Self-designed Survey questionnaire which was circulated through the Google form.

Result: The Knowledge section’s multiple choice, fundamental and application-based questions were observed to be correctly answered by 51.6% of the participants. 81.3% of participants had a favourable attitude regarding conducting research and including research as a mandatory subject in Undergraduate curriculum. However, this was not reflected in their practices as only 46.3% are doing some research related activity. 65.1% of participants responded that lack of time, resources, funding, guidance are some of the barriers in learning research. 

Conclusion: Most participants are aware about the fundamentals of research, but they are not knowing its application in real time situation. The majority of participants believe that the inclusion of research as a subject in undergraduate curriculum can improve the current outlook as well as participation in research activities. However, they are not sure whether it will improve the present state of research as they feel this will need extra time, funding, and proper guidance. However, timely inclusion of research in undergraduate curriculum and providing research-oriented faculty in Homoeopathic Institutes can positively change the current scenario of Research in Homoeopathic education.

KEYWORDS

Research, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Barriers, Homoeopathy, Survey