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Cited by 28Health and Medical Research ImpactsInnovations in Medical EducationHealth Sciences Research and Education

Research involvement among undergraduate health profession students in a resource-limited setting: awareness, attitude, motivators and barriers

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Kiyimba, Blaise, Atulinda, Linda, Nalunkuma, Racheal, Asasira, Ignatius, Kabunga, Jonathan, Banturaki, Davis, Nabyonga, Anastacia Ssebbowa, Nakiganda, Rachel +5 more·2022·BMC Medical Education
DOI 10.1186/s12909-022-03320-yPMC PMC8985566

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Abstract

Background: Involvement of undergraduate health professions students (HPS) in research will facilitate evidence-based clinical practice among future healthcare practitioners. This study aimed to assess research involvement among undergraduate HPS students and associated factors in Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online assessment tool sent through WhatsApp groups and E-mail addresses of HPS in 12 medical schools in Uganda between 20th September and 5th October 2021. Results: We enrolled 398 participants with a mean age of 23.9 ± 3.7 years. Of this, 267 (67.1%) were male. One hundred twenty (30.2%) participants previously participated in a research activity: 90 (58.4%) as research assistants, 39 (25.3%) published as first authors, and 25 (16.2%) as co-authors. Training on the conduct of research was received by 242 (65.8%) participants, and 326 (81.9%) had intentions of conducting research in the future. Factors influencing participation in research activities were, age ≥ 25 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.2–3.2, p = 0.012), being male (aOR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.2–3.6, p = 0.008), and being in a clinical year i.e., year 3 (aOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.1–9.3, p = 0.033), year 4 (aOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1–9.5, p = 0.028) and year 5(aOR: 11.6, 95% CI: 3.2–42.1, p < 0.001). Lack of funds (79.6%), and mentorship (63.3%) were reported as major barriers to research. Conclusions: Despite a high proportion of HPS showing interest in getting involved in research, less than one-third reported previous involvement. Addressing barriers such as funding could potentially improve research involvement and output among undergraduate HPS in resource-limited settings.

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  • The literature rarely included detailed qualitative methodology to understand the details and contexts of student research obstacles.

    “Second, the literature in this area rarely included detailed qualitative methodology, which is vital if we are to understand the details and contexts of student research obstacles.”

    From Barriers faced by undergraduate dental students when conducting research: a qualitative study (2025) · cites this paper as [13]

    The Methods (Data collection tool; Data management and analysis, page not available) describe this paper’s questionnaire and quantitative analysis, while the Discussion reports barriers students perceived. A search for qualitative methodology and limitations found no passage assessing how often the wider literature uses detailed qualitative methods or whether those methods are needed to understand the context of obstacles. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Authors
Kiyimba, B., Atulinda, L., Nalunkuma, R., Asasira, I., Kabunga, J., Banturaki, D., Nabyonga, A. S., Nakiganda, R., Ndyabawe, R., Nkalubo, J., Ssewante, N., Bongomin, F., & Bakeera-Kitaka, S.
Affiliations
  • Makerere University (UG)
  • Mulago Hospital (UG)
  • Gulu University (UG)
Corresponding author
Kiyimba, Blaise
ORCID
Venue
BMC Medical Education
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-04-06
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
249-249
ISSN
1472-6920 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12909-022-03320-y
PMC
PMC8985566
OpenAlex
W4226023149
Cited by
28
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5
FWCI
4.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Medical Education (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Busitema University
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Health and Medical Research Impacts
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
Keywords
undergraduate research participation, health professions students, medical students, research engagement, research motivation, barriers to research, research funding, mentoring, research training, resource-limited settings, Uganda
MeSH terms
Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Occupations, Humans, Male, Mentors, Schools, Medical, Students, Health Occupations, Young Adult

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