title: Students' perspectives on research and assessment of a model template designed to guide beginners in research in a medical school in Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research activities for medical students and residents (trainees) are expected to serve as a foundation for the acquisition of basic research skills. Some medical schools therefore recommend research work as partial requirement for certification. However medical trainees have many difficulties concerning research, for which reason potential remedial strategies need to be constantly developed and tested. The views of medical trainees are assessed followed by their use and appraisal of a novel "self-help" tool designed for the purposes of this study with potential for improvement and a wider application.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a cross-sectional survey of volunteering final-year medical students and residents of a medical school in Cameroon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study surveyed the opinions of a total of 120 volunteers of which 82 (68%) were medical students. Three out of 82 (4%) medical students reported they had participated in research activities with a publication versus 10 out of 38 residents (26%). The reported difficulties in research for these trainees included referencing of material (84%), writing a research proposal (79%), searching for literature (73%) and knowledge of applicable statistical tests (72%) amongst others. All participants declared the "self-help" tool was simple to use, guided them to think and better understand their research focus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical trainees require much assistance on research and some "self-help" tools such as the template used in this study might be a useful adjunct to didactic lectures.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 1839, Yaoundé, Cameroon. tambej@yahoo.fr.|Center for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon. tambej@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tambe
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 1839, Yaoundé, Cameroon. minkandeze@yahoo.fr.|Doctoral Research Unit, The University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon. minkandeze@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Ze
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Minkande
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 1839, Yaoundé, Cameroon. bmoifo@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Boniface
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moifo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 1839, Yaoundé, Cameroon. rembu2000@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Robinson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mbu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 1839, Yaoundé, Cameroon. pc.ongolo@gmail.com.|Center for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon. pc.ongolo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ongolo-Zogo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1, PO Box 1839, Yaoundé, Cameroon. jgonsu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonsu
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D002163:Cameroon; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials