BACKGROUND: The residency training program in Nigeria is a postgraduate medical education during which doctors, having graduated from medical school; go through further training under the supervision of qualified trainers in accredited training centers to become specialists. The senior registrar –a resident doctor who has passed the Part 1 fellowship exams- is expected to complete a dissertation research which is submitted for assessment, to the supervising postgraduate medical college at the exit exams of training. Despite existence of a defined process for the development, assessment and approval of the synopsis,
there is no clear guideline on the timeline for submission of dissertation proposal by the post-part 1 resident doctors for any of the post graduate medical colleges, though it is generally expected that the senior registrar submits their proposal one year upon assumption of the post.
AIMS: This study aims to ascertain the time frame to submission of proposal following success at the part 1 examinations by senior registrars at the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH) Owerri and also to assess the determinants with a view to proffering recommendations towards timely submission of proposals.
METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at FUTH Owerri, among senior registrars who had passed the part 1 exams of at least one of the Postgraduate Medical Colleges (NPMCN, WACP/WACS) The study tool was a structured questionnaire adapted from a previous study involving resident doctors. The questionnaires were distributed to all post-part 1 residents of the various departments via the respective departmental chief residents. A total of 70 questionnaires were distributed and 60 were computed and returned.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were stored electronically and analyzed using the Statistical Product Microsoft Excel version 2019. Data summary was presented as tables and charts. Qualitative data (categorical values) were presented as frequencies and percentages and Continuous variables were presented as mean +/- standard deviation
RESULTS: A total of 60 resident doctors participated in the study and majority of them were males, 42(70.0%). The highest number of respondents who participated in this study were from Anesthesia department 12(20%) Research proposal submission was tagged Early(in time) – if proposal was submitted 0 – 12 months from date of passing part 1 exams; and late- if time of proposal submission was beyond 12months. As at the time of conducting the survey, half of the participating residents had submitted their proposal. A few of the respondents 12(20.0%) submitted their proposals early/on time
Among the factors contributing to delay in proposal submission, ‘difficulty in deciding on a topic’ was the most common factor among the residents, 51(85%).
CONCLUSION: Most of the resident doctors who had submitted their research proposal for assessment, did so more than twelve months post part 1 exams; the major factors contributing to this were difficulty in deciding on a topic and poor knowledge of research methodology and statistical principles. Proper mentorship and guidance by the trainers may help to shorten this duration.