Publication:

Beyond awareness: a cross-sectional analysis of knowledge, attitude and practice gaps in thesis writing among postgraduates in a tertiary care institute

Background Thesis writing is an integral component of postgraduate medical education in India. While academic institutions expect PGs to be proficient in research methodology and scientific writing, the actual level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among students remains under-explored. To assess the KAP related to thesis writing among postgraduate students and to identify gaps between these domains.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 101 first-year postgraduate students at a tertiary care institute using a structured, validated questionnaire. The KAP domains were scored and analysed descriptively, with Spearman’s correlation applied to explore inter-domain relationships.

Results Among 101 respondents, high correct response rates were observed for knowledge on thesis components (80.2%), study design types (82.2%) and research ethics (90.1%). However, awareness of referencing styles (39.6%) and reference management tools (30.7%) was poor. Despite 91.1% expressing willingness to seek thesis guidance and 86.2% believing thesis writing supports academic growth, only 10.9% had attended formal training and 35.6% used reference management software. Structured thesis planning was reported by 70.3%, but overall practical implementation lagged behind knowledge and attitude scores.

Conclusions A clear gap exists between awareness and implementation of thesis-writing skills among postgraduates. Structured workshops, digital literacy training and mentorship are essential to enhance practical research capabilities and ensure high-quality academic output.