I Fournier1, K Stephenson2, N Fakhry3, H Jia4, R Sampathkumar5, J R Lechien6, A E Melkane7, A Y Bahgat8, K De Carvalho Lopes9, T Kennel10, N Teissier11, T Ayad12. 1. School of medecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. 2. Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom. 3. Hôpital de la Conception, Marseille, France. 4. Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 5. Madras ENT Research Foundation, Chennai, India. 6. CHU de Bruxelles, site CHU Saint-Pierre, Brusells, Belgium. 7. Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon. 8. Lecturer of Otorhinolaryngology and consultant of sleep Surgery, Alexandria University, Egypt. 9. Federal University of São Paulo, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, Brazil. 10. Université de Montpellier, hôpital universitaire Gui-de-Chauliac, CHRU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France. 11. Hôpital Robert-Debré, Paris, France. 12. Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. Electronic address: tareck.ayad@umontreal.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To document the challenges faced by residents in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OTL-HNS) around the world to successfully complete research projects. The second objective is to assess if the challenges are uniform worldwide. METHODS: A survey was sent to all OTL-HNS under 45 years old from the 2017 IFOS meeting. This survey was conducted by the YO-IFOS group (Young Otolaryngologists of the International Federation of Otolaryngological Societies). Data was collected for a period of 1 month. Demographic characteristics, information regarding research projects conducted and data concerning perceived barriers to completion of research projects were collected. RESULTS: Among the 2787 attendees, 928 responded to the survey (response rate=33.3%). Of these 928 answers, 267 responses were from residents/interns in OTL-HNS, while 635 responses were from certified otolaryngologists. The three most frequent obstacles to conducting research projects for trainees were limited dedicated time (64%), insufficient financial resources (55%) and lack of education in research (45%). There was no statistical difference in these barriers among the different countries (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first international study that provides insight on trainee's challenges to conduct research projects during residency. Despite the notion that research is essential for generating new knowledge to guide patient care, many residents fail to successfully incorporate research in their surgical curriculum. These obstacles must be addressed by Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery programs in order to facilitate and support resident's research.
OBJECTIVES: To document the challenges faced by residents in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OTL-HNS) around the world to successfully complete research projects. The second objective is to assess if the challenges are uniform worldwide. METHODS: A survey was sent to all OTL-HNS under 45 years old from the 2017 IFOS meeting. This survey was conducted by the YO-IFOS group (Young Otolaryngologists of the International Federation of Otolaryngological Societies). Data was collected for a period of 1 month. Demographic characteristics, information regarding research projects conducted and data concerning perceived barriers to completion of research projects were collected. RESULTS: Among the 2787 attendees, 928 responded to the survey (response rate=33.3%). Of these 928 answers, 267 responses were from residents/interns in OTL-HNS, while 635 responses were from certified otolaryngologists. The three most frequent obstacles to conducting research projects for trainees were limited dedicated time (64%), insufficient financial resources (55%) and lack of education in research (45%). There was no statistical difference in these barriers among the different countries (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This is the first international study that provides insight on trainee's challenges to conduct research projects during residency. Despite the notion that research is essential for generating new knowledge to guide patient care, many residents fail to successfully incorporate research in their surgical curriculum. These obstacles must be addressed by Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery programs in order to facilitate and support resident's research.