This study was a cross-sectional study conducted on 120 medical under-graduates pursuing second year MBBS in Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India from December 2018 to January 2019. After taking permission from Institutional Ethics Committee, a validated and peer reviewed questionnaire was prepared to assess the awareness on research among these students. Verbal consent was taken, after explaining the purpose of the study.

Pre-lecture questionnaire comprising of 10 questions was used to assess the basic awareness of the students regarding research methodology (Annexure-1). A brief lecture of one hour duration using power point presentation was given by the investigator herself to teach all the 120 students the various methods of conducting research, the various bodies conducting research and ways to tackle the various problems encountered in conducting research. The same questionnaire was again answered by the students after the lecture. Attitude of the students regarding research and barriers they felt in conducting research by the students were assessed by using a questionnaire given after the lecture. Their ideas regarding practice of research domain of the study was then assessed on a 5 point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree). The answers given by the 2^nd year MBBS undergraduate students in the questionnaire, both pre-lecture and post-lecture were evaluated and scores were given (knowledge and attitude domains).

Demographic details and scores of knowledge domain of the questionnaire were analysed by applying descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation. Paired t-test (z-test) was performed in Graph pad prism 7.0 software to assess the improvement in the knowledge domain of the questionnaire. The level of significance was kept at 0.05. Frequency and percentage of student responses were used to assess the attitude and practice of research.

A total of 120 MBBS students participated in the study, out of which 27 were males and 93 were females. Mean age of the students was 19±0.82 years. Mean age of male students was 20±1 years and of female students was 18±0.92 years.

After collecting the demographic details, a lecture on basics of research methodology was given. The pre-lecture scores varied from 4-8 in males and 5-10 in female students. The post-lecture scores varied from 5-9 in males and 6-10 in female students.

Z test was performed to compare pre-lecture and post-lecture scores. The p-value obtained was 0.07. This indicates that there is significant difference in the scores of pre-lecture and post-lecture questionnaires [Table/Fig-1]. This indicates that there was significant improvement in performance of the students after the lecture.

While assessing the factors of hurdles in conducting research, most of the students i.e., 46.20% agreed on lack of funding as the main reason [Table/Fig-2]. On the other hand factor which motivated students to conduct research was interest in particular field [Table/Fig-3].

Many of the students recommend the prospective study (65.50%) followed by Randomised Controlled Trial (RCTs) (15.96%) [Table/Fig-4]. Based on assessment of attitude domain of the questionnaire, 53.78% students agreed that participation in research is important in undergraduate days, while 49.5% students strongly agreed on teaching research methodology should be a part of MBBS curriculum [Table/Fig-5].

Among second year students, percentage of students who participated in conference were 5%, out of which only 1% of students gave oral presentation.

Knowledge on research methodology is important to do efficient research [1]. Comprehension of biostatistics and principles of research design is important for literature evaluation and evidence based practice of medicine [2]. Medical students have limited understanding of research and its importance. Therefore, the present study was taken up to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of research among 2^nd year undergraduate students. There are meager studies regarding opinion of undergraduates about research in India, although there are a number of studies understanding the same in the medical and dental postgraduates.

In the present study, the overall knowledge scores were higher among female compared to male students. This finding is similar to a study done by Pallamparthy S and Basavareddy A which was a study also done in medical undergraduate students [3]. Similar to the findings of the present study, their study also perceived that the barriers in conducting research are lack of awareness, lack of funds and difficulty in follow-up patients due to lack of co-operation on their part.

The lecture on basics of research methodology helped the students to gain familiarity with research, as was seen by significant increase of score after the lecture. The hurdles in conducting research were lack of funding and guidance, and this can be improved by effective mentorship program [4]. These findings were comparable to those in the study done by Vairamani CR and Akoijam BS, on medical interns and post-graduate medical students [2].

Majority of students were of the opinion that, it is interest in particular field that motivates the students to do research. Target knowledge gaps in the subject are another such important factor [5]. The students were more interested in prospective studies and in clinical research than invitro or animal studies. Majority of students felt that teaching the fundamentals of research methodology in early semesters of MBBS curriculum is important. These findings were similar to the findings of study done on undergraduate medical students by Althubaiti A et al., in Saudi Arabia [6].

The study should have included MBBS students of other batches as well, so that difference in attitude and practice could have been computated.

Institution of effective mentorship program helps the undergraduate medical students bring theory into their practice of research. The medical colleges in countries like India should provide proper infrastructural facilities to boost their participation in research.