Exploring Research Barriers: A National Multicenter Study Among Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents

Research attitudes and participation differ across medical fields. Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residency programs face unique challenges that hinder residents’ involvement in research. This study explores how OBGYN residents in Jordan view research and identifies obstacles they face. This national multicenter cross-sectional observational study targeted OBGYN residents (postgraduate year [PGY]-1 to 5) across various healthcare institutions in Jordan, including public, private, university, and military hospitals, from October to December 2023. The participants completed a survey, either electronically or on paper, which covered their demographic information, attitudes toward clinical research, prior research involvement, and perceived barriers to research. This study included 185 out of 500 eligible OBGYN residents, giving it a response rate of 37%. Only 39.5% of the cohort had prior research experience, and 27.6% had published in peer-reviewed journals. The involvement of residents in clinical research was not significantly affected by their postgraduate level (p = 0.521) but was higher among residents in university hospitals (p < 0.001). Around 75.1% reported insufficient time as a barrier to research participation, while 78.3% cited workload as the primary obstacle. OBGYN residents in Jordan face significant barriers to research, including heavy workloads, time constraints, and limited mentorship. Despite their interest, participation is restricted by a lack of advanced skills. Improving research training and mentorship and assigning time could increase engagement and promote research culture in residency programs.