Identificar la apreciación de estudiantes de medicina latinoamericanos sobre el nivel de capacitación en investigación recibido en la universidad y su nivel actual en esta área. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en 208 estudiantes de medicina latinoamericanos asistentes al Congreso Científico Internacional de estudiantes de Medicina realizado en el 2008 en Chile. Se evaluó su percepción acerca del nivel de entrenamiento en habilidades relacionadas a investigación y publicación científica recibido en la universidad y se comparó con el nivel que consideraban tener. Además, se preguntó por la percepción de la importancia y limitaciones de la publicación en el pregrado.Learning research skills should be a goal during undergraduate training of physicians. Aim: To identify Latin American medical students’ appraisal on research skills university training. Material and Methods:A self-administered survey about experience in research, self-assessment of research skills, quality of training in the area received at the university and that importance of publishing as undergraduate students, was answered by 208 medical students aged 23 ± 3 years (54%
male), attending a medical students congress. Results: Seventy percent of respondents pertained to medical students’ scientific societies and 34%
had published in a scientific journal. Fifty two percent considered as good or very good the training level received at their universities on information retrieval and 45% considered good the training in research methodology. Thirty two percent considered as poor or none the training received in scientific writing and 37% in the publishing process. Eighty nine percent considered student publishing as important and 61% perceived limitations in this matter. Conclusions: The university training level received by Latin American medical students on research and publication process was evaluated as deficient by these students
