perception, participation, and limitations in research among undergraduate health professionals: a descriptive study

Background: undergraduate health professionals frequently lack awareness of research and demonstrate limited participation due to insufficient opportunities, inadequate training, and the perception that research is irrelevant to clinical practice. however, their involvement is crucial for advancing medical knowledge.objectives: this study aimed to assess undergraduate healthcare students' perceptions and participation in research, identify perceived barriers, and collect their recommendations for improving engagement.methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted at lahore medical & dental college with 1514 medical, dental, and allied health science participants. data were collected using a five-section questionnaire covering demographics, perceptions, participation, limitations, and recommendations. spss version 22.0 was used for reliability, descriptive, and inferential statistical analysis.results: among 1514 students, 76.5% acknowledged the importance of research. however, 77.8% had neither attended a research course/module nor participated in a project, and 44.9% had never planned a research question. the primary barrier was the lack of perceived relevance, with 32.3% unaware of the research. for improvement, 60.3% recommended establishing a research support center, and 56.6% emphasized the need for qualified, research-oriented mentors.conclusion: the findings highlight the need to enhance research engagement among undergraduate healthcare professionals. limited awareness, supervision, and funding contribute to poor participation. universities should integrate research modules into the curriculum, conduct workshops, and provide necessary resources to promote student involvement.