Abstract
BackgroundResearch activities for medical students and residents (trainees) are expected to serve as a foundation for the acquisition of basic research skills. Some medical schools therefore recommend research work as partial requirement for certification. However medical trainees have many difficulties concerning research, for which reason potential remedial strategies need to be constantly developed and tested. The views of medical trainees are assessed followed by their use and appraisal of a novel “self-help” tool designed for the purposes of this study with potential for improvement and a wider application.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional survey of volunteering final-year medical students and residents of a medical school in Cameroon.ResultsThis study surveyed the opinions of a total of 120 volunteers of which 82 (68%) were medical students. Three out of 82 (4%) medical students reported they had participated in research activities with a publication versus 10 out of 38 residents (26%). The reported difficulties in research for these trainees included referencing of material (84%), writing a research proposal (79%), searching for literature (73%) and knowledge of applicable statistical tests (72%) amongst others. All participants declared the “self-help” tool was simple to use, guided them to think and better understand their research focus.ConclusionMedical trainees require much assistance on research and some “self-help” tools such as the template used in this study might be a useful adjunct to didactic lectures.
Highlights
Research activities for medical students and residents are expected to serve as a foundation for the acquisition of basic research skills
Research work is mandatory before graduation from medical schools in Cameroon unlike other developing countries such as Brazil [1]
A “Doctor of Medicine” thesis is partial requirement for undergraduate certification while a dissertation is recommended for specialist qualification
Summary
Research activities for medical students and residents (trainees) are expected to serve as a foundation for the acquisition of basic research skills. Some medical schools recommend research work as partial requirement for certification. Research work is mandatory before graduation from medical schools in Cameroon unlike other developing countries such as Brazil [1]. Medical students are expected to carry out research and defend their work publicly in the final year of studies. A “Doctor of Medicine” thesis is partial requirement for undergraduate certification while a dissertation is recommended for specialist qualification. Such exercise is expected to serve as a foundation for the acquisition of basic research skills. Medical trainees often do not really know where to begin once a research topic has been handed to them (as is often the case) by a
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