title: Research during pediatric residency: predictors and resident-determined influences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Participation in research during residency is thought to be a strong predictor of future research activity; however, the proportion of residents who actually engage in research is small. This study examined (1) which factors are associated with research during residency; (2) which factors influence residents' abilities to conduct research; and (3) the number of residents conducting research in a research-oriented training program.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifteen pediatrics residents were asked at a housestaff retreat to complete a questionnaire about their attitudes toward research. Comparisons between those who were or were not conducting research during residency were made using chi-square or Fisher exact tests; stepwise logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with conducting research during residency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 95% (n = 110, or 82% of the residency program). Respondents were representative of postgraduate year, gender, and residency track. Although 92% of respondents reported having conducted research before residency, only 18% were currently involved in research (p <.001). Fifty-five percent reported interest in conducting research. Advanced degrees and future career plans influenced their decisions to do research (p <.05). Respondents were more likely to conduct clinical research than basic science or laboratory-based research (14% versus 3% of all respondents, p =.007). The most commonly identified influences to conducting research were availability of time (97%), personal interest in research (84%), availability of opportunities (76%), and mentors on hand (72%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interest in research during residency is high, but participation in research is low. There are several influences to the types and amounts of research conducted during pediatrics residency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. nicole.ullrich@tch.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hibberd
authors.forename: Henry H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D035843:Biomedical Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires