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Residents’ ForumFull Access

Tips for Conducting Research During Residency

Published Online:17 Jan 2017https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.1b21

Abstract

Photo: Awais Aftab, M.D.

While many psychiatry residents want to engage in research and scholarly projects, doing so is frequently challenging because of a lack of guidance, time, and resources. Often the hardest part is overcoming the initial hesitation and uncertainty. Here are some guidelines that I’ve developed from personal experience that can make it easier for residents to undertake a scholarly project.

  • Developing interest and finding a mentor: One needs to have a certain degree of interest and motivation prior to initiating a scholarly project. The best way of developing a sustained interest is by making it routine to stay informed about the latest research findings. Doing so helps identify gaps in existing literature and stimulates the mind’s creative machinery. Another prerequisite, which many consider essential, is being in a mentor-mentee relationship with a senior faculty member who can offer guidance and resources. The earlier the relationship is built, the more productive it will be.

  • Finding a scholarly project: Many residents believe that they do not know where to begin to identify a project. It is important to think in terms of research projects that are feasible to do. For most junior residents, it is easier to aim for case reports, review articles, retrospective chart reviews, and educational projects.

For case reports, one needs to be on the lookout for clinical cases with novel presentation, uncommon side effects, or unusual responses to treatment or cases that otherwise have educational value. Ideas for review articles are often generated by a routine search of evidence-based literature related to the clinical cases one is encountering. If there are gaps in the literature, and one has access to the clinical population in question, a chart review study could be conducted to obtain relevant data. Many residents are actively engaged in educational activities with peers and medical students. These academic projects can be presented and published as academic research with some additional effort, such as by conducting pre-and post-surveys to assess the educational impact of a teaching intervention. Participation in quality improvement projects is an ACGME requirement for residents, and in many cases, these can be expanded into research projects. To remain consistently productive in research, it is helpful to identify an area of focus and develop an expertise in it over time.

  • Finding time for research: Engagement in research and scholarly projects requires devoting time and energy, but it is an investment worth making. Most programs offer elective time during the PGY-2 to PGY-4 years, and some even in the PGY-1 year. Program directors usually allow residents to utilize their elective time for research purposes if they have a well-defined proposal for a scholarly project or are already engaged in one. Residents’ interest in a research career after residency is probably best served by participating in a research track, if the program has one.

  • Getting approval from the institutional review board (IRB): Residents should become familiar with their institution’s IRB application procedures and rules related to exemption from review and expedited review. Deficiencies in the IRB application can significantly delay the implementation of a project. Aside from case reports, any research activity dealing with human subjects should receive IRB approval. Residents sometimes make the mistake of conducting a chart review study or educational research without obtaining IRB approval. Most journals require IRB approval as a necessary requisite for publication of a research project.

  • Presentation and publication: There are several resident-friendly conferences and journals that provide residents an opportunity to showcase their work. For instance, APA’s Annual Meeting and IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference are both great avenues for residents to present posters, do oral presentations, and conduct workshops. The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal publishes case reports, review articles, commentaries, and original research studies by residents. The Association of Academic Psychiatry’s annual meetings and its journal, Academic Psychiatry, are excellent platforms for educational research by residents. ■

Awais Aftab, M.D. is a third-year psychiatry resident and chief resident for education at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University. He is also an APA/APAF Leadership Fellow.