Challenges and difficulties in research facing by Saudi board postgraduate residents in Aseer region

Research in health care system plays an important role in advancement and development of medicine and is essential in identifying the most optimal management. Progression in medicine depends upon the training and performance of researchers in health science. Training in research activity is an important aspect of post graduate training and has been recognized as one of its key components. It enhances learning and critical thinking of the resident.

A purposely constructed questionnaire was used to gather the data, questionnaire was composed on demographic items, items related to the problems/difficulties regarding research, items related to specialty selection. Questionnaire was composed of by the panel of experts including subject (research faculty of the college) specialist, English language expert, family physician.

Mean ± S.D of age = 29.2 ± 8.6. 62.0% of the respondents were belongs to the age group of 25-30 years old, 22.% belongs to the 31-35 years old. 44.1% were female while 55.9% were male. Only 13.0% of the respondents finished the residency program (17.1% in R1, 25.7% in R2, 21.6% in R3, 13.6% in R4 while 2.5% in R5 and 6.7% as an adhoc). 51.6% have experience of healthcare from 1 to 3 years. 31.3% respondents participated in the research as a co-author while 26.3% participated in a research as principal investigator.

To conclude, it is necessary to guide the students to conduct studies and keep them motivated. It is also important to reward them so keep their interest intact in research. In this view involving students in research committee and providing them a platform for presentation are very good methods to keep them motivated.