Knowledge, attitude & practices of medical students and teachers towards clinical research in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai ??? cross sectional survey

Abstract

Dinesh K Dhodi, Karan B Thakkar, Gauri Billa, Akash A Khobragade, Shyamal R, Sinha, Sadiq B Patel

Healthcare workers should be adequately trained and equipped with up-to-date knowledge and skills to ensure quality and reliability of clinical research. Lack of trained manpower is one of the challenges faced in clinical research. We conducted this study to elucidate the knowledge, opinions and practices of medical students and teachers, the cohort most likely to undertake clinical research. A questionnaire based cross sectional – Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) - survey was conducted among 450 participants from a tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai, after clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC). Overall, 230/395 (58.3%) had worked on clinical research projects. The meaning of clinical research was known to 60.8% (240/395) of the respondents, while 50.6% (200/395) knew its types and scope and had basic knowledge about clinical trials. Yet, 61% (241/395) could not correctly answer the questions about methodology of clinical trials and the regulatory requirements. On comparing the number of completed questionnaires returned and the number of questions correctly answered, participants from the pre/para clinical field fared better than those from clinical fields (p<0.05). Only 36.3% had taken formal training in clinical research but 73% were in favour of including clinical research training in medical curriculum. Sixty three percent wanted to make a carrier in clinical research. The knowledge gaps and misconceptions regarding clinical research should be annulled by training the trainers and including clinical research training in the medical curriculum. The government should take initiative in promoting clinical research training in medical schools.