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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
"Luck of the draw really": a qualitative exploration of Australian trainee doctors' experiences of mandatory research
BMC medical education, Vol.24(1), pp.1-11
18/09/2024
PMID: 39443892
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Background: Many medical trainees, prior to achieving specialist status, are required to complete a mandatory research project, the usefulness of which has been debated. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of trainees' experiences and satisfaction of conducting such research projects in Australia.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Semi-structured interviews with trainees were undertaken between May 2021 and June 2022. Australian medical trainees who had completed a research project as part of specialty training within the past five years were invited to participate. The purposive sample was drawn from participants in a survey on the same topic who had indicated interest in participating in an interview. Interviews explored trainees' overall experience of and satisfaction with conducting research projects, as well as their perceptions of research training, support, barriers, enablers, and perceived benefits. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.
Results: Sixteen medical doctors from seven medical colleges were interviewed. Trainee experience and satisfaction was highly variable between participants and was shaped by four factors: 1) trainees entered their specialty training with their own perspectives on the value and purpose of the research project, informed by their previous experiences with research and perceived importance of research in their planned career path; 2) in conducting the project, enablers including protected time, supervisor support and institutional structures, were vital to shaping their experience; 3) trainees' access to these enablers was variable, mediated by a combination of luck, and the trainees' own drive and research skill; and 4) project outcomes, in terms of research merit, learning, career benefits and impacts on patient care.
Conclusions: Trainee experiences of doing research were mixed, with positive experiences often attributed to chance rather than an intentionally structured learning experience. We believe alternatives to mandatory trainee research projects must be explored, including recognising other forms of research learning activities, and directing scarce resources to supporting the few trainees who plan to pursue clinician researcher careers.
Details
- Title
- "Luck of the draw really": a qualitative exploration of Australian trainee doctors' experiences of mandatory research
- Creators
- Caitlin Brandenburg - Queensland HealthJoanne Hilder - Queensland HealthChristy Noble - University of QueenslandRhea Liang - Queensland HealthKirsty Forrest - Bond UniversityHitesh Joshi - Queensland HealthGerben Keijzers - Queensland HealthSharon Mickan - Bond UniversityDavid Pearson - Queensland HealthIan A. Scott - Princess Alexandra HospitalEmma Veysey - St Vincent's HospitalPaulina Stehlik - Bond University
- Publication Details
- BMC medical education, Vol.24(1), pp.1-11
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 1
- Grant note
- This study was funded by the Gold Coast Health Collaborative Research Grant Scheme 2020 (RGS2020-037).
- Identifiers
- 991013281443102368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2024, corrected publication 2024.
- Academic Unit
- Social Work; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article