Residents' Research Experiences and Barriers: A Qualitative Study to Identify Strategies for Research Skill...

To explore the research experiences, barriers, and challenges that residents face during residency while completing their research projects, and to identify solutions to overcome these challenges.

A qualitative study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Medical Education, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, Pakistan, from June to October 2024.

Using a purposive sampling technique, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with residents from diverse specialities. Residents who had submitted their dissertations were included in the study. Data saturation was achieved after ten interviews. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis.

Eight themes were identified. It encompasses individual motivation for research participation, perception of medical research significance, current research practices, opportunities and challenges in institutional support and mentorship, insights into the institutional research culture, challenges in the effective dissemination of research findings, training capacity, and research curriculum frameworks.

Residents highlighted the need to promote a robust research culture by establishing a research and training cell at each medical teaching institution. Timely facilitation by the research cell may help overcome challenges and provide opportunities to enhance their research skills.

Internship and residency, Research design, Teaching hospitals.