Underutilization of Research Journals by Undergraduate Students of Medical Colleges in Islamabad: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: To analyze the factors behind the underutilization of research articles as an adjuvant source of knowledge by medical students. Materials & Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of students from medical colleges in Islamabad from June 2017 to August 2017. The students were verbally informed about the study, and those who gave their consent were included. The data was collected through a self-constructed questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of the questionnaire, and it was found to be 0.68. The data obtained was analyzed on IBM's statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21 (IBM, Armonk, NY, US). Results: A total of 382 students participated in the study. The use of research articles for the preparation of problem-based learning (PBL), small group discussions, or assessments was very low. Students did, however, consult journals if emphasized by the faculty. A majority of the students did appreciate the importance of medical journals to explore detailed information about disease states and health issues encountered by self or family members. The use of research articles by students for preparing for exams was very low. Conclusion: The students’ underutilization of journals may be attributable to an over-familiarity with books, a lack of faculty prompting, and a lack of knowledge on how to access such journals. These factors should be addressed while designing the medical curriculum to enhance journal perusal among medical students.