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Research activity of specialist registrars in psychiatry

Locum Consultant Psychiatrist, Murray Royal Hospital, Muirhall Road, Perth PH2 7BH

Moyra Guthrie

Consultant Psychiatrist & Clinical Director, Murray Royal Hospital, Perth

Declaration of interest

A.M.H. and M.G. both undertook full-time research placements as higher trainees.

Petrie et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, 2004, 27, 180–182) identify many of the negative aspects of conducting research as a trainee. However, an opportunity has been missed to examine the type of research being conducted and trainees’ opinions on the positive aspects of doing research. In our opinion, research taught us more about juggling competing demands, negotiating skills, ethical dilemmas and organisational competence than any other experience as a psychiatric trainee. If research sessions were used for another purpose (as more than half the responders wished) this valuable training opportunity would be lost. A consultant needs much more than just clinical skills.

Further, using successful publication as an outcome measure of research sessions ignores the many other benefits research can provide. To those benefits noted above should be added the understanding of the process of project development, increased knowledge in the area of study, an appreciation of the demands of academic and clinical roles and transferable skills such as information technology, writing skills and independent working (Hull & Guthrie, 2000). We had both finished our training before definitive publications in major journals were published, but neither felt our time had been wasted.

Interesting findings in this survey include the relatively small numbers of trainees who had difficulties recruiting subjects (10, 31%) and funding (4, 12%). As both issues tend to be problematic for even the most experienced and battle-hardened researcher is this a reflection of the sort of studies being conducted? Of course, to participate in larger studies would include the attendant risk of delayed or indeed no publication!

References

HULL, A. M., GUTHRIE, M. (2000) Full time research placement as a higher trainee. BMJ, 320, s2 -7249.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hull, A. M. Articles by Guthrie, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hull, A. M. Articles by Guthrie, M.