Medical students’ perceptions and attitudes toward translational medicine education: a cross-sectional study in Paraguay

Introduction: Translational medicine seeks to bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and clinical practice, yet its integration in undergraduate medical education remains limited. Understanding students’ perceptions of this field is key to designing curricula that foster translational competencies. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted among 108 medical students from the Universidad María Auxiliadora (Paraguay, 2024 cohort). A validated 25-item questionnaire assessed three dimensions: understanding of translational medicine, perceived importance of including it in the curriculum, and expectations of its future applicability. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. Results: Only 15% of students reported good or complete understanding of translational medicine (mean self-perceived comprehension = 2.4/5), while 85% agreed that it should be formally included in medical education. Most participants (≈80%) anticipated that such training would enhance clinical reasoning, scientific updating, and professional innovation. The main barriers identified were lack of time (61%), mentorship (52%), and methodological knowledge (48%). Nearly all students (93%) expressed willingness to participate in translational research if supported institutionally. Conclusions: Although students’ conceptual knowledge of translational medicine is limited, they recognize its relevance and express motivation to learn and apply it. Integrating translational content and mentorship programs into the curriculum could strengthen research culture and prepare future physicians to bridge science and clinical practice.