Baseline experience and level of comfort with research design and implementation of current PGY1 residents in Arkansas

Introduction:  ASHP accrediting guidelines require that PGY1 residents complete a research project.  These guidelines state that residents must “demonstrate ability to evaluate and investigate practice, review data, and assimilate scientific evidence to improve patient care and/or the medication use system.”¹ One problem with this implementation is that for many PGY1 residents, this may be their first experience with conducting research. 

Objectives: To determine if PGY1 residents in Arkansas have similar past experience and comfort with various aspects of research.

Study Design: Observational prospective study

Methods: A prospective study was undertaken of all PGY1 residents in Arkansas.  Surveys were completed by 22 current residents to assess their past research experience and comfort with various aspects of research.  PGY1 resident grouping was done to establish groups affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and non-UAMS affiliated groups.  Of the residents surveyed, 11 were UAMS-affiliated and 11 were not.

Results: From the survey, demographic information showed that 78.3% of PGY1 residents were female with a dominant age range of 26-30. Past research experience was similar between the groups. Non-UAMS affiliated residents had greater experience in research poster creation and presentation. Survey data was divided into domains of comfort with methods, statistics, procedures, and general research knowledge.  The variance between UAMS affiliated residents and non-UAMS affiliated residents was not-significant besides in the area of comfort with statistics (p-value of 0.0087).

Conclusions: PGY1 residents in Arkansas have similar past experience and comfort with various aspects of research.  The similarity can be seen with UAMS affiliated and non-UAMS affiliated residents.  Future research will be used to determine the efficacy of a pilot Research Certificate Program offered to UAMS affiliated PGY1 residents.

References:

1. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. (2015). Required competency areas, goals, and objectives for postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residencies.