Caracterización preliminar de los protocolos de investigación de residentes de Ciencias Médicas / Preliminary characterization of research protocols of residents in Medical Sciences

Introducción: El conocimiento científico se caracteriza por ser racional, sistemático y verificable, lo que requiere una correcta estructura del protocolo de investigación. La finalidad de un protocolo es la correcta planificación y ejecución del estudio mediante la organización del trabajo de forma lógica, enfocada y eficiente. Objetivo: Describir los protocolos de tesis de los residentes de ciencias médicas. Métodos: Se realizó una investigación descriptiva de corte retrospectivo para la caracterización de 61 protocolos de tesis de los estudiantes de las disciplinas de Medicina general integral y Estomatología general integral del curso 2019-2020. Se confeccionó una planilla para la recolección de los datos extraídos de los protocolos revisados y se elaboró una base de datos para su almacenamiento. Resultados: Del total de protocolos revisados, 36 (59 por ciento) fueron de Medicina general integral y 25 (41 por ciento) de Estomatología general integral. El 90 por ciento de los protocolos de Medicina general integral son estudios observacionales, de estos el 97 por ciento estudios transversales, y de ellos casi el 90 por ciento estudios descriptivos. Los protocolos de Estomatología general integral presentaron resultados similares: el 96 por ciento son estudios observacionales, de estos 92 por ciento transversales y de ellos el 95 por ciento de tipo descriptivo. Acápites tan importantes como la operacionalización de las variables, la descripción de los métodos para la recolección de datos y las consideraciones éticas para el trabajo con humanos se consideran en menos del 25 por ciento de todos los protocolos revisados. Conclusiones: Se demuestra una marcada insuficiencia en la redacción de los protocolos de investigación por parte de los residentes de Medicina general integral y Estomatología general integral(AU)

Introduction: Scientific knowledge is characterized by being rational, systematic and verifiable, for this an adequate initial planning of the research work is required, which is achieved through the correct structure of the research protocol. The planning of a protocol is the correct planning and execution of the study by organizing the work in a logical, focused and efficient way. Objective: To characterize the thesis protocols of the students of the disciplines of comprehensive general medicine and comprehensive general stomatology of the 2019-2020 academic year. Methods: A retrospective descriptive investigation was carried out for the characterization of 61 thesis protocols of the students of the integral general medicine and integral general stomatology disciplines of the 2019-2020 academic year. A spreadsheet was prepared to collect the data extracted from the revised protocols and a database was prepared for storage. Results: Of the total protocols reviewed: 36 (59 percent) from integral general medicine and 25 (41 percent) from integral general stomatology. 90 percent of integral general medicine protocols are observational studies, of these 97 percent cross-sectional studies, and of them almost 90 percent descriptive studies. Regarding the integral general stomatology protocols, the results are similar: 96% are observational studies, of these 92 percent are cross-sectional and 95 percent of them are descriptive. In all, sections as important as the operationalization of the variables, the description of the methods for data collection, and the ethical considerations for working with humans are considered in less than 25 percent of all the protocols reviewed. Conclusions: A marked insufficiency in the writing of the research protocols by the residents of integral general medicine and integral general stomatology is demonstrated(AU)

How to embed a conceptual or theoretical framework into a dissertation study design.

BACKGROUND: Using a theoretical framework is often viewed as laborious or unnecessary for higher degree research projects. However, considering research problems through the lens of a theoretical framework can provide a structure for students to focus their research questions and produce findings that are more likely to address the research problem. AIM: To explain the utility of a theoretical framework and demonstrate the inclusion of a theoretical framework - deterrence theory - in a research project exploring plagiarism in nursing education. DISCUSSION: The experiences of a higher degree research student provided insight into the inclusion of a theoretical framework in a research plan. The benefits of this process are highlighted so other students can appreciate the importance of this process to their research plan and findings. CONCLUSION: A framework can add value to the overall research plan, from developing the research question through to the analysis and presentation of research findings. Fundamentally, frameworks provide a map for a study, providing a rationale for the development of the research questions or research hypothesis. A theoretical framework brings cohesion to the research project by linking the research questions and providing 'intellectual bins' for data analysis and presentation of research findings. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This article may assist higher degree research students in recognising the benefits of using a theoretical framework and provides an example of a 'real-life' application in a research project. The authors argue that theoretical frameworks can strengthen the likelihood that the research has produced meaningful findings that have addressed the research problem.

Presenting research reflexivity in your PhD thesis.

BACKGROUND: It is important for researchers to be open and transparent about the relationship between themselves and the subjects of their enquiry. Reflexivity enables them to do this, but although there is much guidance in the literature about reflexivity in general, there is little guidance for PhD candidates on including it in their theses. AIM: To provide a practical illustration of how researchers can evidence reflexivity in their theses. DISCUSSION: The author presents the reflexive stance and journey she made when completing a PhD study that used constructivist grounded theory. It predominantly depicts the influences on the choices and decisions she made, so the reader can make sense of the journey she undertook. The author depicts how she began her journey as a novice nurse researcher and concluded it as a fully fledged researcher. CONCLUSION: There has been much debate about how to integrate reflexivity in the context of a particular study. This article highlights the importance of reflexivity in research and uses excerpts from the author's thesis to illustrate how it can be presented in a thesis. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The article provides a guide and questions for PhD candidates to consider so they can present and think more deeply about reflexivity in their theses.

Rigor in PhD dissertation research.

Recent reports from the Institute of Medicine document the increase in the number of nurses enrolled in doctoral education preparing for nurse scientist and leadership roles in the transformation of health care. This means that many doctoral students will acquire a knowledge of the research process, learn how to review and critique relevant literature, select appropriate research designs, and with the guidance of their dissertation chair and committee, design and conduct high quality, scholarly research studies that culminate in successfully defended doctoral dissertations. The health care profession expects that these dissertations, which include quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods, will contribute to the knowledge base of the nursing profession and advance improvement in clinical and public health outcomes in the populations served by the nursing profession. This article reviews the concept of rigor in research, the rationale for rigor, various approaches that increase rigor, and the associated concepts that strengthen a research study.

La tesis doctoral: guía de supervivencia para radiólogos / Doctoral theses: a survival guide for radiologists

Hoy día, las posibilidades de investigación en el campo de la radiología son sorprendentemente amplias, accesibles a cualquier nivel. Gracias a los programas de gestión e informe, los archivos disponibles de imágenes y casos son enormes. Sin embargo, la presión asistencial y la falta de medios a veces limitan su avance. Una de las posibles vías de acceso son los programas de doctorado. La introducción del Plan Bolonia ha condicionado grandes cambios en la organización y requisitos necesarios para la tesis doctoral. Esto puede ser confuso para aquellos más alejados de la universidad; dado que la realización de la tesis con cierta frecuencia se plantea avanzada la vida profesional, su desconocimiento puede ser una dificultad añadida. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar la normativa básica que rige los programas de doctorado en la actualidad, así como aportar algunos consejos útiles para los posibles futuros doctorandos

Nowadays, there are, surprisingly, many opportunities for research in the field of radiology, and these are accessible at any level. Thanks to radiological information systems and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), a huge number of images and cases are available. Nevertheless, the daily workload and the lack of resources sometimes limit the advance of radiologic research. One of the routes of access is doctoral programs. The Bologna process has resulted in significant changes in the organization and in the prerequisites for doctoral theses. The new situation can be confusing for those who are further removed from the university. Given that many radiologists undertake their doctoral theses once their careers are well established, unfamiliarity with the new system can represent an added difficulty. This article aims to review the basic regulations that govern doctoral programs nowadays and to provide some useful advice for potential doctoral students

The conceptual framework and the iterative elements of doctoral nursing research design.

BACKGROUND: Conceptual frameworks are central to doctoral nursing theses; they include the pragmatic and philosophical elements of the research design and their interrelationships. While the research process may seem to stem in a straightforward, linear manner from the research question, it is a more complex iterative enterprise. AIM: To build on Durham et al ( 2015 ) by reviewing the ostensibly static nature of research design and associated philosophical elements of the conceptual framework, reconsidering these in relation to the iterative nature of the research process, and translating these into implications for presenting the final draft of a doctoral nursing thesis. DISCUSSION: All doctoral nursing theses will have limitations and experience difficulties. They do not follow a rigid, sequential process with a defined start and end, but progress tentatively, with the relationship between the elements of the research design and philosophical assumptions following an iterative process. CONCLUSION: The research design element of the conceptual framework of doctoral nursing theses should reflect the iterative reality of the process and the associated interrelationships that occur. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The absence in doctoral nursing theses of a full description of the philosophical and iterative processes of the research architecture and conceptual framework weakens the transparency of the research. Therefore, doctoral nursing students need to move beyond simple description of their inductive or deductive position and research design to help develop trust and confidence in their research.

El tutor de tesis en el régimen de residencia de las especialidades médicas / No disponible

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Approaching literature review for academic purposes: The Literature Review Checklist.

A sophisticated literature review (LR) can result in a robust dissertation/thesis by scrutinizing the main problem examined by the academic study; anticipating research hypotheses, methods and results; and maintaining the interest of the audience in how the dissertation/thesis will provide solutions for the current gaps in a particular field. Unfortunately, little guidance is available on elaborating LRs, and writing an LR chapter is not a linear process. An LR translates students' abilities in information literacy, the language domain, and critical writing. Students in postgraduate programs should be systematically trained in these skills. Therefore, this paper discusses the purposes of LRs in dissertations and theses. Second, the paper considers five steps for developing a review: defining the main topic, searching the literature, analyzing the results, writing the review and reflecting on the writing. Ultimately, this study proposes a twelve-item LR checklist. By clearly stating the desired achievements, this checklist allows Masters and Ph.D. students to continuously assess their own progress in elaborating an LR. Institutions aiming to strengthen students' necessary skills in critical academic writing should also use this tool.

Publicación científica de docentes que conforman el jurado dictaminador de tesis en una Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud peruana / Scientific publications by teachers making up the jury examining students' theses at a Peruvian medical school

Ante la problemática de la producción científica en salud en el Perú y el limitado aporte de publicaciones por parte de docentes y estudiantes desde el pregrado, se tuvo como objetivo determinar la frecuencia de publicación de artículos científicos de docentes que participaron en calidad de jurado dictaminador de tesis en una Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de una universidad privada del Perú. Para esto, se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal en una población conformada por 131 docentes quienes evaluaron tesis aprobadas en el período 2015-2018. La búsqueda de artículos se realizó en Google Scholar y la base de datos de Scopus. Se encontró que solo el 17,6 por ciento poseía alguna publicación. De este grupo, el 9,2 por ciento lo hizo en los últimos 5 años. Asimismo, el 6,9 por ciento logró publicaciones indizadas en Scopus y 3 docentes demostraron certificación como investigadores por el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica del Perú. Se concluye que la tasa de publicación de docentes que evaluaron tesis en una Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud en el Perú es baja y preocupante(AU)

In view of the challenge posed by health scientific production in Peru and the limited number of publications contributed by teachers and students as of the undergraduate level, it was decided to determine the frequency of publication of scientific papers written by teachers making up the jury examining students' theses at the medical school of a private Peruvian university. To achieve this aim, a cross-sectional observational descriptive study was conducted of a population of 131 teachers who had evaluated theses accepted in the period 2015-2018. The search for papers was carried out in Google Scholar and the database Scopus. It was found that only 17.6percent of the teachers had ever published some scientific work, of whom 9.2percent had done so in the last five years. Additionally, only 6.9percent had publications indexed in Scopus, and three had been certified as researchers by the National Council for Science, Technology and Technological Innovation of Peru. It was concluded that the publication rate by teachers evaluating theses at a Peruvian medical school is low and worrisome(AU)

The theorical-methodological construction of theses and dissertations and their epistemological problems.

This essay discusses the problem of the lack of dialogue between theory/empirical reality in the construction of the theoretical structure of dissertations and doctorates in Human Sciences in Brazil; taking Geography as an example, Santos (2000) observed this problem, which persists at the national level. The proposal is to present the question and to suggest the relationship between theory/empirical reality coming of the dialogue with specific research questions. It is these research questions that will define the limitations, factors, agents, processes and structures that will be studied. The relationship between the construction of the theoretical references with specific problems allowing theoretical-methodological advances, thus adapting the reading of the general theory to empirical situations. This appropriation generates both methodological directions for how to treat the empirical and the understandings that will be used in the discussion of the results. The confrontation and discussion of the results will suggest affirmations, questions and new perceptions for the theory.

Comentarios al artículo «Calidad metodológica del trabajo de grado de bachiller en una facultad de medicina» / Comments to the article «Methodological quality of the work for bachelor degree in a medical school»

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Analysis of and reflection on bachelor thesis in nursing students: A descriptive study in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The bachelor thesis, a final year subject to obtain a nursing degree, presents an ideal opportunity for the development and assessment of professional competencies. Thus, it is necessary to specify that the structure of the bachelor thesis works as an element of review and reflection from both a pedagogical and professional perspective. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the main elements of the bachelor thesis in the nursing degree 2015-16 in Spain. METHODOLOGY: A transversal descriptive study was conducted using a quantitative documentary analysis via study guides or grade reports. The variables were the main academic elements of the bachelor thesis subject (credits, competencies, learning outcomes, contents, methodologies, training activities and assessment). A probabilistic sample of 66 institutions was studied using descriptive statistics with statistical measures of central tendency and measures of variability. RESULTS: The results showed a maximum range of 12 and a minimum of 6 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. The definition and number of competencies to be developed varied and the learning outcomes were formulated in only 40.9% of the guides consulted. The most widely used teaching methodologies and training activities were academic supervision (87.9%) and autonomous work (80.3%). Regarding types of work, basic investigation (34.8%), care plans (33.3%) and literature review (30,3%) ranked highest. No specific descriptors could be linked to the contents. Finally, two main assessment tools were found: process and product. The rubric is presented as a main element of the assessment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The bachelor thesis is conceived as autonomous, personal and original academic work. But no homogeneity was observed in the key development elements such as competencies, teaching strategies, or type of bachelor thesis. Therefore, the findings from the analysis and the bibliographic review are presented as recommendations as regards the outcome, structure and/or teaching elements linked to the bachelor thesis.

How to do a postgraduate research project and write a minor thesis.

Many universities and colleges in low-income and middle-income countries require a masters dissertation or thesis for as part of postgraduate training, and some colleges offer a 1-year to 2-year diploma of child health as a clinical qualification to enable skills in child health for generalists, or as part of the early phase of paediatric training. This paper describes the stages of doing a research project for such a masters or diploma, and describes in detail how to write a minor thesis. The paper is designed to provide a practical approach for junior researchers, and their supervisors. Colleges differ in their formal requirements of a minor thesis (word count, line spacing, referencing style), but this paper outlines the principles and practical issues rarely covered elsewhere.

Tesis por compendio de publicaciones: la innovación del doctorado / PhD by Prior Publication: An New Approach to the Doctoral Thesis

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Acceptance of a systematic review as a thesis: survey of biomedical doctoral programs in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Systematic reviews (SRs) have been proposed as a type of research methodology that should be acceptable for a graduate research thesis. The aim of this study was to analyse whether PhD theses in European biomedical graduate programs can be partly or entirely based on SRs. METHODS: In 2016, we surveyed individuals in charge of European PhD programs from 105 institutions. The survey asked about acceptance of SRs as the partial or entire basis for a PhD thesis, their attitude towards such a model for PhD theses, and their knowledge about SR methodology. RESULTS: We received responses from 86 individuals running PhD programs in 68 institutions (institutional response rate of 65%). In 47% of the programs, SRs were an acceptable study design for a PhD thesis. However, only 20% of participants expressed a personal opinion that SRs meet the criteria for a PhD thesis. The most common reasons for not accepting SRs as the basis for PhD theses were that SRs are 'not a result of a PhD candidate's independent work, but more of a team effort' and that SRs 'do not produce enough new knowledge for a dissertation'. The majority of participants were not familiar with basic concepts related to SRs; questions about meta-analyses and the type of plots frequently used in SRs were correctly answered by only one third of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Raising awareness about the importance of SRs and their methodology could contribute to higher acceptance of SRs as a type of research that forms the basis of a PhD thesis.