title: Barriers to conducting research: A survey of trainees in emergency medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research underpins evidence-based practice, but there are significant barriers to conducting research relevant to each clinical discipline. Understanding these barriers could allow strategies to reduce their impact. The present study was undertaken to understand specific barriers to research for emergency medicine (EM) trainees.
  
  
  METHODS
  EM trainees attending research short courses were surveyed. Free-text responses were classified into themes and a list of pre-specified potential barriers was used for ranking purposes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The responders (n = 61/90; 67.8%) were young, mostly male with low confidence in leading a research project and limited previous research experience. There were 155 unique barriers identified from 55 respondents, which fitted into nine categories. The most frequently perceived barrier was time (29%), followed by skills (22.6%) and cultural factors (19.4%). Most trainees (n = 54/56, 96.4%) believed that the barriers could be overcome. Strategies suggested included protection of time, mentoring and education, as well as top-down improved research culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Barriers to research in EM are similar to other specialities and were perceived to be manageable. Reorganisation and refocus of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine training curriculum may be an option to foster an environment to promote research.
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|National Trauma Research Institute, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olaussen
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|National Trauma Research Institute, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|National Trauma Research Institute, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Biswadev
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0508-2450
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|National Trauma Research Institute, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload / Q000592:standards
keywords: barriers, emergency medicine; evidence-based medicine; research; surveys and questionnaires