OBJECTIVE To locate the 5 main factors related to the scarcity of medical research. METHODS The study was conducted at the Prasat Neurological Institute, Bangkok, Thailand, from December 1 to 15, 2006, and comprised medical staff of the institution. A questionnaire was developed that explored demographic data, evaluation of the 5 domains related to--knowledge, attitude, motivation, resources, and skills--and the requirement for research conducted. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse the data. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Of the 285 questionnaires sent out, 189 (66.32%) were returned. The frequency of each professional career type who had correct answers was statistically significant among physicians and nurses. The mean total percentages of knowledge accuracy in physicians, nurses and professionals allied to medicine were 73.47 +/- 17.36%, 30.5 +/- 25.70% and 54.95 +/- 27.9% respectively which had statistically significant differences in the level of research education. The mean total attitude, motivation, resource and skill scores were 3.65 +/- 0.57, 3.59 +/- 0.05, 2.98 +/- 0.02 and 2.78 +/- 0.10 which had no statistical differences within the professions and working duration. However, attitudes and skills were significantly different amongst different levels of research education. CONCLUSIONS The factors related to research constraint are multi-dimensional. Skill, resource and knowledge are the core factors. The administrative committee needs to consider multiple strategies based on demographic characteristics to facilitate and advocate research work.