AN EVALUATION OF DIFFICULTIES DURING RESEARCH BY THE POST GRADUATE STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH KERALA

The value and integrity of Research are dependent on the integrity of the researcher. They have the responsibilities to prevent Research misconduct and misuse of Research . All members of the research team are expected to maintain high standards and to uphold the fundamental values of research .Research is done by a person or a small group of persons . But it requires acceptance or approval of several others like Guide, supervisors , Institutional research Committee , Institutional ethics Committee etc . This might create a lot of hindrances or hardships for the researchers . Objectives: 1.To find out the problems faced by the Researchers while conducting the postgraduate thesis/ dissertation 2.To formulate some support system for the PG students Methods: All the Postgraduate students willing for the study were asked to fill up the questionnaire in google form . Results: Selecting the topic of study, meeting the deadlines fixed by the authorities, getting materials for review of literature, getting adequate number of cases are the stages found difficult by the most of the participants. During the critical phase of postgraduate studies, they feel incompetent to choose a topic of study by their own. Difficulty is felt in selecting the relevant materials from the vast information available in internet and identifying standard journals. They have apprehension of rejection of simple studies by IRC and of questions putforth in IEC. They cannot dedicate enough time for research related work after their routine duties. They feel stressful when corrections suggested repeatedly by the committees and guides. Some of the suggestions made by them to reduce difficulties in research are (a) constant motivation by the guide, (b) multiple review meetings for follow up of the study, (c) Appraise the PG students to conduct research by discussing accepted thesis in methodology workshop instead of theory of Research. (d) Establishing a dedicated Research Helpline by Community Medicine Department.