ATTITUDE OF FINAL YEAR OPTOMETRY STUDENTS IN NIGERIA TOWARDS RESEARCH

ABSTRACT

Research in optometry, traditionally led by individuals outside the profession, has the potential to advance optometric knowledge and improve patient care. Understanding the attitude of undergraduate optometry students towards research is crucial for the future of the profession. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the attitudes of final-year optometry students in Nigeria towards research. Data were collected through an online survey from seven optometry schools, with a total of 203 voluntary responses. The majority of respondents were aged 24-28 years, predominantly single, and evenly distributed by gender. The findings revealed that most final-year optometry students considered research-related activities to be daunting (mean response = 4.9), despite acknowledging the necessity of research in their field (mean response = 7). Many viewed research as a boring and anxiety-inducing task, with 96% stating that research scares them. Furthermore, the majority of students did not enjoy research and found it uninteresting. Approximately 66.5% of students believed research was not engaging. Despite this, a significant portion of students acknowledged using research in their daily lives. Variables such as age, gender, and CGPA were not statistically significant at the P < 0.05 level. The study highlights that a lack of prior exposure to research during undergraduate years contributes to the negative perception of research among Nigerian final-year optometry students. These findings suggest that many students view research as challenging and uninspiring.

Keywords: Attitude, Undergraduate, Research, Optometry