title: Resident research: why some do and others don't.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although research is widely considered to be a relevant and essential skill to resident development, the actual participation rate of residents in research remains low, and the factors associated with participation are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the participation rate of junior residents in research, and their attitudes and perceived barriers toward research, via an anonymised survey carried out from October to November 2013. The residents were from an established Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited internal medicine residency training programme in Singapore.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 64.1% (82/128 residents). The most frequently cited barrier was lack of time. Only a third of the residents surveyed were actively participating in research. Those with postgraduate qualifications were more likely to be involved in research (odds ratio 4.71, p = 0.015). Among the 82 residents, 40.2% reported an interest in research as part of their career; these were mainly graduates from overseas universities or postgraduates. A belief that research is an intrinsically valuable activity distinguished residents who chose research as a career path from those who were undecided (p = 0.004). The belief that research is a means to better clinical practice also divided those who chose research from those who rejected it (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that specific beliefs determine the level of research activity and career interest among residents. Novel strategies may be incorporated in training programmes to improve the interest and participation of residents in research, and to facilitate the development of academic clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jason Yongsheng
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kaavya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narasimhalu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Orlanda
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.|Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tien Yin
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.|Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thumboo
authors.affiliation: Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.|Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ghee Chee
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Phua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012106:Research; D012846:Singapore; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: attitudes; barriers; clinician-scientist; practices