title: Knowledge and attitudes about health research amongst a group of Pakistani medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health research training is an important part of medical education. This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding health research in a group of Pakistani medical students at Aga Khan University, Karachi.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross-sectional pilot study conducted among a group of Pakistani medical students. Through stratified random sampling, a pre-tested, structured and validated questionnaire was administered to 220 medical students. Knowledge and attitudes were recorded on a scale (graduated in percentages).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores of students were 49.0% on knowledge scale and 53.7% on attitude scale. Both knowledge and attitudes improved significantly with increasing years of study in medical college [Regression coefficient 4.10 (p-value; 0.019) and 6.67 (p-value; < 0.001) for knowledge and attitudes, respectively].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical students demonstrate moderate level of knowledge and attitude towards health research. Intensive training in this regard is associated with significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes of students towards health research.
authors.affiliation: Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. drhasankhan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Muhammad RizwanulHaq
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khawaja
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.forename: Muhammad Ameen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rauf
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fatmi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires