Barriers for research activities in residency programs: A mix-methods study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Research
• Resident Research
• Latin America

Background:

• Research activities positively influence resident performance.
• Limited data exists on research engagement by residents in developing countries.
• Understanding barriers and facilitators is crucial for medical residency programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and facilitators for developing research in medical residency programs.
• To explore strategies for integrating research into the medical residency curriculum.
• To characterize research-motivated residents in a Latin American context.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study combining qualitative (interviews, focus groups) and quantitative (surveys) approaches.
• Grounded theory used for qualitative data analysis.
• Factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and ICC used for survey psychometric evaluation.

Main Results:

• Lack of protected time and inadequate mentoring identified as primary barriers by residents and faculty.
• A significant gender gap in international publications was observed, with women reporting research competing with other activities.
• Facilitators included resident participation, curriculum integration strategies, and resident profiles.

Conclusions:

• Research is highly valued by residents and faculty in this Latin American university.
• Key barriers include insufficient protected time, ineffective mentoring, and gender disparities.
• Proposed strategies involve interdisciplinary mentoring, elective rotations, and gender-equitable research incentives.