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. 2019 Sep;24(9):e864-e869.
doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0805. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Attitudes and Barriers to Research Among Oncology Trainees in East Africa

Fidel Rubagumya  1   2 , Sarah K Nyagabona  1   2 , Khadija H Msami  2 , Achille Manirakiza  1   2 , Ahuka N Longombe  1   2 , Theoneste Maniragaba  1   2 , Hilary Chan  3 , Alan Paciorek  3 , Li Zhang  3 , Emmanuel Balandya  1 , Leyna H Germana  1 , Elia J Mmbaga  1 , Nazima Dharsee  1   2 , Katherine Van Loon  4
Affiliations

Attitudes and Barriers to Research Among Oncology Trainees in East Africa

Fidel Rubagumya et al. Oncologist. 2019 Sep.

Abstract
in English, Chinese

Background: East Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world and faces a rising burden of cancer; however, few people are equipped to effectively conduct research in this area.

Materials and methods: A 31-item questionnaire was distributed to current trainees and recent graduates of the Master in Medicine in Clinical Oncology Program at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania. Areas that were assessed included (a) demographic information, (b) prior research training, (c) prior and current research activities, (d) attitudes toward the importance of research, and (e) supports and barriers to inclusion of research in an oncology career path.

Results: A total of 30 individuals responded to the survey, of whom 53% (n = 16) were male and 70% (n = 21) identified as current trainees. Among the majority of respondents, attitudes toward research were strongly favorable. Although only 37% (n = 11) reported receiving any formal training in research methodology, 87% (n = 26) reported intentions to incorporate research into their careers. The absence of protected time for research and lack of access to research funding opportunities were identified by a majority of respondents as critical barriers.

Conclusion: A majority of current or recent oncology trainees in Tanzania desire to incorporate research into their careers, but most also lack adequate training in research methodology and longitudinal mentorship. Our future collaboration will focus on creation of appropriate research training curriculums and fostering an environment that catalyzes interprofessional development and transforms and extends context-specific cancer research in East Africa.

Implications for practice: Current and recent oncology trainees in East Africa expressed a high enthusiasm for research, driven by a sense of urgency related to the burden from cancer that the region faces. This highlights the need for cancer research training and mentorship in this setting. This work hypothesizes that African principal investigators can operate effectively if proper attention is given to selection and provision of high-quality foundational didactic training to learn the theory and implementation of research as well as to the development of an environment conducive to mentoring.

摘要

背景。东非是世界上发展最快的地区之一，同时面临着日益加重的癌症负担；但是，很少有人能够有效地开展这一领域的研究。

材料和方法。我们向坦桑尼亚穆希比利卫生和相关科学大学 (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences) 临床肿瘤学项目的当期学员和新近医学硕士毕业生分发了一份由 31 个问题组成的调查问卷。评估领域包括 (a) 人口统计信息，(b) 之前的研究培训，(c) 之前和当前的研究活动，(d) 对研究重要性的态度，以及 (e) 将研究纳入肿瘤学职业道路所获得的支持和面临的障碍。

结果。共有 30 人参与了该调查，其中，53% (n = 16) 为男性，70% (n = 21) 被确定为当期学员。大多数受访者对研究持强烈支持的态度。虽然只有 37% (n = 11) 的受访者报告曾接受过正式的研究方法培训，但有 87% (n = 26) 的受访者报告其有意在其职业生涯中从事研究工作。大多数受访者认为，缺乏受保护的研究时间和研究资助的机会是面临的主要 障碍。

结论。坦桑尼亚当期或新近的大多数肿瘤学学员都希望在其职业生涯中从事研究工作，但大多数人还缺乏足够的研究方法和纵向指导方面的培训。我们未来的合作将侧重于建立适当的研究培训课程，培养促进跨专业发展的环境，并改革和扩展东非特定背景下的癌症研究。

实践意义:受该地区面临的癌症负担所带来的紧迫感的影响，东非当期和新近肿瘤学学员表达了对研究的高度热情。这种热情更彰显了在这种环境下，人们对癌症研究培训和指导的迫切需求。这项工作假设，如果对高质量基础教学培训的选择和提供给予适当的重视，以学习研究理论和实施并发展有利于进行指导的环境，非洲的主要研究人员便可以有效工作。

Keywords: Africa; Oncology; Research training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures of potential conflicts of interest may be found at the end of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Self‐reported attitudes toward research among current and recent oncology trainees in Tanzania.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Self‐reported impressions of institutional supports for research among current and recent oncology trainees in Tanzania.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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