An indirect evaluation of medical residents' research writing skills by research synopsis review.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To scrutinise the research proposals of medical residents fo inadequacies in writing dissertation synopsis. METHODS: The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the regional centre of the College of Physicians and Surgeon Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised synopsis from January t June 2020 of postgraduate residents attached wit different hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. For evaluation purposes, an institutional checklist was used that had domains general, epidemiological, statistical, and bibliographical review. These were assessed by a single epidemiologist Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 400 research proposals, 224(56%) were submitted by male and 176(44%) by female residents. Also, 208(52% proposals were submitted by residents at public-sector hospitals, a 114(28.5%) by those at private-sector hospitals, while 78(19.5%) were from military hospitals. Significant association of errors was found with training institutions, speciality an duration of training (p<0.05). No gender difference was seen (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the research proposals lacke correcunderstanding of all the concepts related to research. Difference in research writing skills across specialties and trainin institutions may be related to the lack of availability o research assistance and good mentorship.