Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula
- . Deepak Kumar Bandari 1
- . Shazia Qasim Jamshed 2
- . Vijay Kumar Chattu 3
1 Department of Pharmacy Practice, Vaagdevi College of Pharmacy, Warangal, Telangana, India
2 Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
3 Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Scholarly research experiences during student life can make pharmacy students
capable of reaching the pinnacle of triumph with scientific skills.
AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the perception of pharmacy students and their inclination
toward scholarly research publications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional web‑based survey was conducted among pharmacy
students across India, Malaysia, and Pakistan. A 21‑item questionnaire was distributed through
different social networking sites between July and September 2016. Descriptive and Chi‑square tests
were used to analyze the findings. A value of P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS: Of 543 pharmacy students approached, 348 participants from India, Pakistan, and
Malaysia were included giving a response rate of 64%. The study comprises 48.5% of males and
51.4% of females, studying a bachelor of pharmacy (44.5%), and from private institutions (94%).
Nearly, three‑fourths (76.4%) of the students had no publications but showed high interest toward
original research (87.4%). Most of the participants cited the reasons to engage in the scholarly
publication is too advanced research/share findings (74.1%), and to improve writing and research
skills (73.6%). Further, a significant percentage of students agreed that contributing to the literature
during student life as a valuable experience and publishing will provide them with personal fulfilment.
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that most of the pharmacy students had positive perceptions
toward scholarly research activities to advance research and improve their writing research skills.
We recommend the pharmacy schools to incorporate scholarly activities in the curriculum to embark
research‑inclusive career.
Keywords
participation in a research experience culminating in journal
publication. Am J Pharm Educ 2010;74:47.
2. Aslam F, Shakir M, Qayyum MA. Why medical students are
crucial to the future of research in South Asia. PLoS Med
2005;2:e322.
3. Ramsauer VP. An elective course to engage pharmacy students
in research activities. Am J Pharm Educ 2011;75:138.
4. Vellurattil RP, Puglisi MP, Johnson CL, Slonek J. Introduction of a
capstone research program in a new college of pharmacy: student
perceptions. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning.
2014 May 1;6 (3):429‑36.
5. Bauman JL, Ascione FJ, Brueggemeier RW, Letendre DE,
Roberts JC, Speedie MK, et al. Maintaining pharmacy education’s
research focus as the academy expands. Am J Pharm Educ
2012;76:144.
6. Kim SE, Whittington JI, Nguyen LM, Ambrose PJ, Corelli RL.
Pharmacy students’ perceptions of a required senior research
project. Am J Pharm Educ 2010;74:190.
7. Kao DJ, Hudmon KS, Corelli RL. Evaluation of a required senior
research project in a doctor of pharmacy curriculum. Am J Pharm
Educ 2011;75:5.
8. Bhagavathula AS, Sarkar BR, Patel I. Clinical pharmacy practice in
developing countries: Focus on India and Pakistan. Arch Pharma
Pract 2014;5:91‑4.
9. Murphy JE, Slack MK, Boesen KP, Kirking DM. Research‑related
coursework and research experiences in doctor of pharmacy
programs. Am J Pharm Educ 2007;71:113.
10. Qualtrics. Available from: http://www.qusiatrial.asia.qualtrics.
com/SE/?SID=SV_23PaNI9TUH7RHzT&Preview=Survey&_=1.
11. Stanislaus AC. Qualitrics Survey Research Suite. Available
from: http://www.archieve.csustan.edu/IR/documents/
QualitricsSurveyResearchSuite_presentation_07312013_WEB.
pdf. [Last accessed on 2015 Jul 03].
12. Hassali MA. Challenges and future directions for public health
pharmacy education in developing countries. Am J Pharm Educ
2011;75:195.
13. Amin TT, Kaliyadan F, Al Qattan AE, Al Majed HM, Al
Khanjaf SH, et al. Knowledge, attitude and barriers related
to participation of medical students in research in three Arab
Universities. Educ Med J 2012;4:43‑56.
14. Ismail MI, Bazli MY, O’Flynn S. Study on medical student’s
attitude towards research activities between University College
Cork and Universiti Sains Malaysia. Procedia Soc Behav Sci
2014;116:2645‑9.
15. Creative Research System. Available from: http://www.
surveysystem.com/sscalc.html. [Last accessed on 2015 Jan 14].
16. Shelton M. Mary Snyder Broussard. Reading, Research, and
Writing: Teaching Information Literacy with Process‑Based
Research Assignments. Vol. 78. Chicago: College Res Libr; 2017.
p. 1005.
17. Basnet B, Bhandari A. Investing in medical student’s research:
Promoting future of evidence based medicine in Nepal. Health
Renaissance 2014;11:297‑300.
18. Weaver AN, McCaw TR, Fifolt M, Hites L, Lorenz RG. Impact of
elective versus required medical school research experiences on
career outcomes. J Investig Med 2017;65:942‑8.
19. Burgoyne LN, O’Flynn S, Boylan GB. Undergraduate medical
research: The student perspective. Med Educ Online 2010;15:5212.
DOI: 10.3402/meo.v15i0.5212.
20. Ommering BWC, Dekker FW. Medical students’ intrinsic versus
extrinsic motivation to engage in research as preparation for
residency. Perspect Med Educ 2017;6:366‑8.
21. Abu‑ZaidA, BamogaddamI, AlBaderL, AlFakhriL, NurhussenA.
A call to encourage curricular research publications by medical
students. Int J Med Educ 2016;7:406.
)