Causes and remedies for low research productivity among postgraduate scholars and early career researchers on non-communicable diseases in Nigeria
- PMID: 31307552
- PMCID: PMC6628473
- DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4458-y
Causes and remedies for low research productivity among postgraduate scholars and early career researchers on non-communicable diseases in Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the descriptive, cross sectional, questionnaire-based study reported here was to explore the causes of low productivity in non-communicable diseases research among postgraduate scholars and early career researchers in Nigeria and identify measures that could facilitate increased research output.
Results: The 89 respondents were masters-level, doctoral scholars and resident doctors who attended a workshop. Majorities of the respondents (over 70%) either agreed or strongly agreed that factors contributing to poor non-communicable diseases research productivity include a dearth of in-country researchers with specialized skills, inability of Nigerian researchers to work in multidisciplinary teams, poor funding for health research, sub-optimal infrastructural facilities, and limited use of research findings by policy makers. Almost all the respondents (over 90%) agreed that potential strategies to facilitate non-communicable diseases research output would include increased funding for research, institutionalization of a sustainable, structured capacity building program for early career researchers, establishment of Regional Centers for Research Excellence, and increased use of research evidence to guide government policy actions and programs.
Keywords: Early career researchers; Non-communicable diseases; Postgraduate students; Research productivity.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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