Clinical Ophthalmology (Feb 2022)
Experience, Attitude, and Perceived Barriers Toward Research Among Ophthalmology Residents in Saudi Arabia: A National Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Ali A Al Saeed,1 Saad H AlEnezi,2 Mohanna Aljindan,3 Fahad Alwadani,4 Adi Mohammed Al Owaifeer4,5 1Collage of Medicine, King Faisal University, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia; 4Faculty of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; 5King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Adi Mohammed Al OwaifeerFaculty of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966135895777, Fax +966135800820, Email [email protected]: Research sets the foundation for evidence-based practice in medicine. Globally resident doctors in various specialties are facing major obstacles to accomplish high quality research projects. Understanding these obstacles may help residents achieve their maximum research potential. This current study was undertaken to document the experience, attitude, and perceived barriers toward research among Saudi ophthalmology residents.Methodology: A specific questionnaire was developed and validated for the purpose of this study. The questionnaire was distributed online via email to actively enrolled residents in all five ophthalmology training programs in Saudi Arabia.Results: Out of a total number of 193 ophthalmology residents in all five training programs, 147 responded to the questionnaire yielding a 76.1% response rate the mean age of participants was 27.6 ± 1.8 and the number of males and females was almost equal. The vast majority [96.4%] have worked on at least one research project before starting residency training. Involvement was mainly in the phases of concept and design [72.5%], proposal preparation [85.9%], the three most frequent obstacles to conducting research projects for trainees were burden of other activities [4.27], lack of protected time for research [4.11] and too many regulations in obtaining ethical approval [3.67].Discussion: Our current study shows that ophthalmology residents understand the importance of clinical research, but they are facing a considerable number of barriers toward accomplishing high-quality research projects. Findings of our study may help program directors to address these barriers and improve the incorporation of research along with clinical training in residency curricula.Keywords: ophthalmology residents, medical education, research, evidence-based medicine
