Abstract
In the current directive of the National Medical Commission, postgraduate (PG) residents are required to list their dissertation topics within a very short period after enrollment. Such activity to pre-establish shortlisted topics before subjecting them to any training in research methodology results in designed studies that are not executed well, and students are not interested. In this study, the author suggests that a 3-month reflection window is necessary to place the interest of the students in line with scientific research.
Keywords: Medical education, National Medical Commission, postgraduate dissertations, research outcomes
Introduction
Under the current situation in medical education in India, the dissertation is part of postgraduate (PG) education and seeks to initiate an interest in inquiry and evidence-based practice. “When residents are required to choose a topic before they have any real understanding of how research is conducted, they tend to select whichever topic appears safest or most expedient, simply to satisfy the administrative deadline.”[1] In most cases of the 1st-year residents, such a requirement is at a stage of massive clinical transition and fundamental lack of training in clinical trial design, biostatistics, or literature review. Recent literature highlights that the insufficient structured training during early residency notably affects the quality of PG research outcomes.[2,3]
The “Hurry-and-Select” Paradox
The existing system triggers a domino of academic stalemate. By being forced to choose a topic before they can gain any idea on how research is done, residents will be bound to choose a topic that seems safe or unnecessary to meet administrative procedure requirements on time. As the study shows, any premature selection does not increase the internal motivation of the student.[4] In addition, lack of early research exposure and mentorship has been identified as a major hurdle to meaningful engagement in research among PG students.[4,5] Therefore, the dissertation, a process of scholarship that is supposed to be continuous, is pushed to the back burner and then quickly revived in a frantic data-gathering spurt just weeks before the final examinations.[2,6]
The Necessity of a Three-month Period of Thought
The period of transition is also very important and should last at least 3 months. The research induction program should be incorporated into this period and should be comprised literature synthesis, feasibility assessments, and mentorship alignment of the residents. It has been established that organized orientation program makes a difference in the mindset of the PG students regarding research.[3] Structured research training and early mentorship have been shown to improve the research competency and publication outcomes among residents.[2,3] This period of transition provides a resident with time to stop being a student who must undertake a study and be a researcher who desires to undertake a study.
Conclusion
The dissertation ought not to be the thing that may be conquered, but it is the skills that need to be acquired. Giving a 3-month extension for topic selection in India, there can be a significant difference in the quality of medical research in India and will remove the psychological pressure of new residents. Such a reform aligns with competency-based medical education and promotes meaningful research engagement rather than procedural compliance. It is high time to shift the policy of the rapid submission to the robust selection.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Funding Statement
Nil.
References
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