Survey of Research Activity by Trainees in the Mersey Region

Abstract

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has always been keen to promote research by psychiatric trainees. Trainees are becoming increasingly aware of the need to produce research in order to enhance their promotion prospects and to widen their own knowledge and experience. At the University Department of Psychiatry in Liverpool we have taken an active role in its promotion within the region and in the spring of 1986 we decided to conduct a survey into research activity by psychiatric trainees in Mersey Region. We surveyed all psychiatric training posts in the region except those which were an integral part of GP vocational training schemes and those which were vacant or occupied by locums. This left a total of 98 posts. We received 66 replies, giving an overall response rate of 67%; these com prised 36 out of 44 (82%) from the University Linked General Professional Training Scheme, and 17 out of 19 (89%) from the senior registrar (SR) group, but only 13out of 35 (37%) from the other general professional rotations. For the purpose of this analysis we considered the three groups separately. The University rotation gave replies from 36 trainees; 20 of these (10 male, 10 female) were in first and second year posts, whilst 16(9 male, 7 female) were in third and fourth year posts. An interest in research was expressed by 33 (92%) whilst 10(28%) were actually doing it (2 from first and second year and 8 from 3rd and 4th year). One other had started a project but then given up. The Senior Registrar Group (13male, 4 female) showed a response indicating that all 17 (100%) were interested in research whilst 15 (88%) were doing research; 4 reported difficulties in undertaking research in the past due to inadequate supervision or resources but all of these were currently engaged in research. Of the 13 (15%) trainees (10 male, 3 female) from per ipheral rotations two were currently engaged in research whilst one other had previously attempted a project but had given it up. An interest in research was expressed by 12 (92%). Looking at the figures in a slightly different way, 18of the 21 post membership trainees were doing research (86%) whilst 9 of the 46 (20%) pre-membership trainees were involved. All the 27 trainees doing research had supervision but only 17 felt that they had access to adequate statistical advice. Only 10trainees reported attendance at the Univer sity Research Seminars (5 from the University rotation and 5 from the SR Group) and of these 9 were engaged in research. Of those doing research, 8 were involved in their own projects, 12 in joint projects and 7 in both types of project. Only 6 out of the 66 (9%) were registered for higher degrees. 11(17%) had published work whilst 13(20%) had presented papers at meetings. The 27 trainees doing research listed 37 replies to a question on nature of the research interest. The three most common were social and community (32%), psychological/ psychotherapy (27%) and physiological (19%). The trainees were given a choice of five groups with which they could discuss a proposal if wishing to undertake research, i.e. tutor, consultant, senior registrar, university depart ment or other. The 27 currently doing research gave the following response, 36% would go to the University Department, 28% to their consultant, 22% to their tutor, 10% to other and 3% to an SR. Amongst the 39 not doing research, 34% would go to their Consultant, 25% to their Tutor, 22% to the University Department, 6% to an SR, 4% to other and 7% did not know. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has also been keen to encourage more people to take the research option in the membership exam. We therefore also asked about the trainees views on the research option. There were 21 post-membership trainees and none of these had done the research option, although 7 (33%) felt that some form of research option should be available. The 46 pre-membership trainees showed that 11 (24%) had or were considering the research option whilst 20 of the 46 (43%) felt that some form of research option should be present.