The Impact of Research Competencies on the Research Culture of Terminal Residents in Medical Specialties at the Universidad Central del Este

Abstract

Summary Research competencies, seen as relevant formative domains, can be indicators that measure the development of research culture and how they impact the space where the researcher consciously, freely, and personally thinks, investigates, and produces science. The objective of the study is to compare the results of the impact that research competencies generate on the research culture of medical specialty residents before and after their study, taking into account skills, attitudes, training, promotion, perception, in their respective extensions. A mixed-field study was conducted, with a quantitative first phase, through the application of a questionnaire with 30 items of closed-ended questions, dichotomous option, to a random sample of 30 residents, in two stages, August 2023 and March 2024, and a second qualitative phase in which a semi-structured interview with 10 questions was applied to 5 coordinators of the different specialties offered. The results show how weak indicators prior to the knowledge of the competencies tend to grow after the instruction of these in research activities, affected by excessive healthcare workload. It is concluded that the research culture of residents in training is strengthened as they approach research competencies, for which it is necessary to recognize weaknesses in educational actors, as well as in academic, research, and hospital institutional settings for optimization.