Extent of research involvement and influencing factors among resident doctors at a tertiary health facility in Osun State, Nigeria.

Background: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and extent of research involvement among resident doctors at a tertiary health facility in Osun state, Nigeria, and identified its associated factors.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of 199 resident doctors selected via a simple random sampling technique. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data with the outcome variable being the resident doctors' total score on extent of research involvement. Data analysis was done using the Stata 17 software.

Results: The respondents' mean age was 34.1±4.6. Only 34(39.1%) of those receiving mentorship in research ranked the support received as good, with majority 177(88.9%) still desirous of a mentor in research. About 121(60.8%) of the residents had good knowledge of basic research but only 58(29.2%) of them had a positive attitude towards research. Only 23(11.6%) reported confidence in research and needing no guidance. Their mean perceived research ability and extent of research involvement scores were 40.3±8.9 and 4.9±2.8 respectively. Their perceived ability to conduct research (β=0.10, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.14, P<0.000), being dental residents (β=1.23, 95% CI: 0.45 to 2.02, P=0.002), a perceived need for assistance in research, (β=1.08, 95% CI: 0.16 to 2.01, P=0.022), and the types of research designs ever conducted significantly influenced positively their extent of research involvement.

Conclusion: The majority of the resident doctors studied are poorly involved in research despite their knowledge of basic research, with a gross unmet need for guidance in conducting research. Innovative efforts are needed to link their knowledge about research to conducting one.