Academia: the view from below

Attitudes to research and research training among ophthalmologists and ophthalmology trainees in New Zealand

PURPOSE

To determine the attitudes to research and research training among ophthalmologists and ophthalmology trainees in New Zealand.

METHODS

A structured, self-administered questionnaire was devised and after preliminary validation a postal survey was sent to all ophthalmologists and ophthalmology registrars and fellows in New Zealand.

RESULTS

A total of 82 replies were received from 115 questionnaires sent out; a response rate of 71.3%. An overwhelming majority found research to have benefited their education, clinical practice and career; 67.1% of the respondents intended to do research in the future. Although a majority (56.4%) felt research to be beneficial to ophthalmology training, 42.3% felt research would be of limited or no benefit when selecting candidates for vocational training. However, 97.5% of respondents felt that ophthalmology trainees should undertake some form of research during training, with most supporting small studies or case reports (44.4%) or a short structured training course in research (42.0%). Interestingly, 86.6% felt that research methodology and data analysis should be taught in a structured fashion with most supporting courses or seminars of a few weeks duration during the vocational training period. Many ophthalmologists felt inadequately equipped or trained to mentor and supervise trainees undertaking research and 41.5% of consultant ophthalmologists felt further training to fulfil this role would be beneficial.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey suggests that New Zealand ophthalmologists generally approve of and support a place for research, possibly of a more structured design, during ophthalmology training.

Nurses in academic departments of general practice and primary care

In 1997, the authors conducted a survey of registered nurses working in the academic departments of general practice and primary care in UK and Irish medical schools. The survey aimed to determine the number, demographic and professional profile of nurses employed in these academic departments, including their employment status and their views on their clinical work and professional development. The majority of nurses were professionally experienced, had higher degrees, worked in a research capacity, and were likely to have short-term contracts. Contrary to professional perceptions, the majority of nurses stated that clinical work is important to their current job and expressed a need for research support and recognition of their autonomy as healthcare professionals.