RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the attitude and practice toward undergraduate research studies among medical students at Qassim University in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey developed based on previous studies. It was announced to all registered medical students who have active college's email (n = 448) at Qassim University in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia during the academic year of 2016. RESULTS: The response rate was 56.6% (n = 252). Less than half of the students have started their research projects (41.6%). Students complained about the lack of free time and the unavailability of a university hospital: 92.4% and 97.1%, respectively. One-third of students participated in extra-curriculum research, and female students were more involved. Only 15.2% have published their research and 26.7% have presented it in conferences. Male students have more journal publication in compared to their female collages while the females have presented their projects more often in conferences. To improve their curriculum vitae, 95.2% stated they are going to participate in extra-curriculum research in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Students believe in the importance of research for improving their future work life. The main reason for not participating in research, beyond deficiency of research activities, is lack of free time. Students are unsatisfied with research skills gained through academic life, although their interest toward research increases and they plan on participating in future research.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To improve awareness and knowledge of mothers regarding vaccine preventable diseases and the immunization status of children under five through health education messages by medical students, at Gulshane-Sikanderabad, a squatter settlement adjacent to Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi. METHODS: The undergraduate medical students' visit families in the squatter settlement. This study compared the effect of intervention by medical students on vaccination status of children under five in the intervention households versus those without intervention. A baseline study was done in 1998 and a follow-up study was done after four years to assess the differences in knowledge and practices of mothers regarding immunization. RESULTS: A total of 110 houses from block I and 207 houses from block V were selected. An increase of 22% (52% vs 30%) in block-I (p = 0.003) and 19% (32% vs 13%) increase in block V was seen in the utilization of PHC Center for vaccination (p = 0.001). Mothers' knowledge regarding the age when first vaccine is administered to the child, increased in the follow-up from 60% to 76.5% (p < 0.01) in block I and from 50% to 62% in block V. The immunization status increased significantly in block I from 46.5% to 75% after the intervention (p < 0.005), no significant difference could be seen in block V (p = 0.16). In the follow-up survey a significant difference was seen in the vaccination status between the two blocks (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The health education messages significantly increased the vaccination status of children under 5 in the intervention area.