RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY AND ASSOCIATED CHALLENGES AMONG POSTGRADUATE DOCTORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL, ENUGU.

Abstract

Background: Continuous evidence-based research is crucial in medical education, guiding clinical practice and informing healthcare policy. It is a core pillar of postgraduate academia. Despite the need to generate and disseminate quality scientific evidence, there is a significant disparity in research engagement and publication rates, with a small fraction of scholars contributing the majority of publications. This imbalance is particularly evident in regions like Nigeria, where health research output and its translation into policy fall short of expectations.

Aim: This study aimed to assess research engagement, and productivity, and to identify associated factors and challenges influencing publication among postgraduate doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 241 postgraduate doctors affiliated with UNTH was conducted. Data were collected using a quantitative electronic self-administered survey tool, which gathered information on participants' sociodemographic profiles, research activities, factors enabling publication success, and encountered challenges. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Version 23.0, with Pearson correlation employed to examine associations between research productivity and variables such as age, years of academic experience, and professional level.

Results: The findings revealed that 88.4% of respondents had engaged in research, but only 54.9% had successfully published their work. Significant barriers to research productivity included time constraints, poor mentorship, inadequate funding, and insufficient research writing skills, poor institutional support and infrastructures. Positive correlations were observed between research output and factors like age, professional experience, and years in academia, indicating that seniority positively influences research productivity.

Conclusion: This study highlights the need for improved mentorship, grant-writing support, and institutional resources to enhance research productivity among postgraduate doctors in Nigeria.