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Saini RK, Issac M, Kumar KJD, Chaudhury S, Sharma R, Dangi A, Chail A. Selecting a thesis topic: A postgraduate's dilemma. Ind Psychiatry J 2023; 32:19-23. [PMID: 37274575 PMCID: PMC10236658 DOI: 10.4103/ipj.ipj_62_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is said that well begun is half done. Choosing a thesis topic and submitting a research protocol is an essential step in the life cycle of a postgraduate resident. National Medical Commission of India mandates that all postgraduate trainees must submit at least one original research work (dissertation), one oral paper, one poster, and one publication to be eligible for final year examination. It is the duty of the faculty to ensure that trainees take active interest and submit their theses on time. However, their journey is often marred by multiple challenges and hurdles. The literature was searched from year 2000 onwards till 2011 using Pubmed, ResearchGate, MEDLINE, and the Education Resources Information Centre databases with terms related to residency training, selecting thesis topic, challenges or hurdles, and conversion of thesis into journal article. Existing literature on the subject matter is sparse. Current article advocates promotion of ethical and original research during postgraduation and proposes a checklist for residents before submission of their proposals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv K. Saini
- Department of Psychiatry, Command Hospital (EC) Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Mohan Issac
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - K. J. D. Kumar
- Department of Psychiatry, Military Hospital, Pathankot, Punjab, India
| | - Suprakash Chaudhury
- Department of Psychiatry, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rachit Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ankit Dangi
- Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Amit Chail
- Department of Psychiatry, Command Hospital, Panchkula, Haryana, India
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Obuku EA, Apunyo R, Mbabazi G, Mafigiri DK, Karamagi C, Sengooba F, Lavis JN, Sewankambo NK. Support mechanisms for research generation and application for postgraduate students in four universities in Uganda. Health Res Policy Syst 2021; 19:125. [PMID: 34526061 PMCID: PMC8442413 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-021-00776-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A large proportion of postgraduate students the world over complete a research thesis in partial fulfilment of their degree requirements. This study identified and evaluated support mechanisms for research generation and utilization for masters’ students in health institutions of higher learning in Uganda. Methods This was a self-administered cross-sectional survey using a modified self-assessment tool for research institutes (m-SATORI). Postgraduate students were randomly selected from four medical or public health Ugandan universities at Makerere, Mbarara, Nkozi and Mukono and asked to circle the most appropriate response on a Likert scale from 1, where the “situation was unfavourable and/or there was a need for an intervention”, to 5, where the “situation was good or needed no intervention”. These questions were asked under four domains: the research question; knowledge production, knowledge transfer and promoting use of evidence. Mean scores of individual questions and aggregate means under the four domains were computed and then compared to identify areas of strengths and gaps that required action. Results Most of the respondents returned their questionnaires, 185 of 258 (71.7%), and only 79 of these (42.7%) had their theses submitted for examination. The majority of the respondents were male (57.3%), married or cohabiting (58.4%), and were medical doctors (71.9%) from Makerere University (50.3%). The domain proposal development for postgraduate research project had the highest mean score of 3.53 out of the maximum 5. Three of the four domains scored below the mid-level domain score of 3, that is, the situation is neither favourable nor unfavourable. Areas requiring substantial improvements included priority-setting during research question identification, which had the lowest mean score of 2.12. This was followed by promoting use of postgraduate research products, tying at mean scores of 2.28 each. The domain knowledge transfer of postgraduate research products had an above-average mean score of 2.75. Conclusions This study reports that existing research support mechanisms for postgraduate students in Uganda encourage access to supervisors and mentors during proposal development. Postgraduate students’ engagement with research users was limited in priority-setting and knowledge transfer. Since supervisors and mentors views were not captured, future follow-on research could tackle this aspect.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Obuku
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. .,The Africa Centre for Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Translation, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. .,Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - R Apunyo
- The Africa Centre for Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Translation, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - G Mbabazi
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - D K Mafigiri
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,Center for Social Science Research On AIDS, Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - C Karamagi
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
| | - F Sengooba
- Department of Health Policy and Planning, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - J N Lavis
- McMaster Health Forum, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, and Department of Political Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.,Africa Centre for Evidence (ACE), University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - N K Sewankambo
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.,The Africa Centre for Systematic Reviews and Knowledge Translation, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,Regional East African Community Health (REACH) Policy Initiative, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Mugabo E, Velin L, Nduwayezu R. Exploring factors associated with research involvement of undergraduate students at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2021; 21:239. [PMID: 33902555 PMCID: PMC8072743 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-02662-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early involvement of students in research processes is an important step in professional development and can increase the academic output of the university. Previous studies indicate low research involvement amongst undergraduate students, however limited research has been done in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to describe the level of research involvement amongst undergraduate students at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) at University of Rwanda (UR) and to assess factors associated with research involvement. METHODS This cross-sectional study covered the three CMHS campuses. A survey was shared in class WhatsApp groups from July to September 2020. Data were analyzed using Stata IC 16.0 with descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS In total, 324 students participated with the mean age being 23.3 (standard deviation 2.27). Males constituted 65.1% of respondents vs. 33.3% females. The largest portion of respondents were from the School of Medicine and Pharmacy (46.6%), and Medicine was the most frequent department (33.3%). On a Likert scale from 1 to 10, 60.0% of the respondents thought that research was 10/10 important for undergraduate students, with the mean value being 8.8. Rating their interest in taking part in research during undergraduate studies, 48.2% scored it 10/10, with the mean value being 8.57. 80.3% of respondents had attended a research module, course, or workshop; however, only 48.8% had participated in a research project and 72.0% of them had been involved in data collection. Inadequate knowledge about research processes and lack of mentors were the main barriers to research participation in 48.0 and 40.2% of respondents respectively. Establishment of a UR-Undergraduate research support center (77.2%), and involving students in ongoing UR projects (69.4%) were the most frequent suggestions to improve students' research participation. CONCLUSION Undergraduate students at the CMHS in the UR have a large research interest, yet their involvement is currently low. Limited knowledge about research processes and shortage of mentors remains potent barriers to participation. Inviting undergraduate students to partake in ongoing projects and establishing a UR undergraduate research support center are recommended to strengthen undergraduate research experience at the UR-CMHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Mugabo
- University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Lotta Velin
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Surgery and Public Health, Skane University Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Richard Nduwayezu
- University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda.
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