Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29974023›Full record

ArticleCureus2018

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

Fahad Azam, Abida Shaheen, Fuad Shaikh, Abdul Ahad E Sheikh, Fasih Sami Siddiqui, Anoosh Zafar, Nismat Javed

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Fahad AzamDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Shifa College Of Medicine, Islamabad, PAK.
Abida ShaheenDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Shifa College Of Medicine, Islamabad, PAK.
Fuad ShaikhDepartment of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Islam Medical College, Islamabad, PAK.
Abdul Ahad E SheikhStudent, Shifa College Of Medicine, Islamabad, PAK.
Fasih Sami SiddiquiStudent, Shifa College Of Medicine, Islamabad, PAK.
Anoosh ZafarStudent, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, PAK.
Nismat JavedShifa College Of Medicine, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, PAK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo analyze the factors behind the underutilization of research articles as an adjuvant source of knowledge by medical students. MATERIALS &

methodsWe 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).

resultsA 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.

conclusionThe 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.

Indexed as

assessmentmedical curriculumresearch articlesrestricted access

Identifiers

PMID29974023
PMCPMC6029731

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.