Challenges for Scientific Writing Ruth Nduati MBCHB MMED
Challenges for Scientific Writing Ruth Nduati, MBCHB, MMED, MPH Associate Professor of Paediatrics University of Nairobi
Outline Opportunities for training in research methods. l Opportunities for research l Barriers for scientific communication. l Incentives for scientific writing and way forward l
Training on Research l Masters in Medicine (MMED) – offered in Medical schools across sub-Sahara Africa. l l thesis based on original research is a core requirement International Clinical Epidemiology Network INCLEN AFRICLEN l Clinical epidemiology units (Rockerfeller Foundation support) l l l International AIDS Research Training program – (Fogarty International Centre) University to University programs l l University of Bergen – MPH, Ph. D programs University of Dar-es-Salaam and Karolinska Institute etc.
Opportunities for Research Established National Research Institutes l Free-standing Medical Research Institutes l University Departments l Collaborative research groups l Foreign research outfits l l Welcome Trust, CDC, Walter Reed
Barriers to scientific communication l Competing demands of care provision l l PEPFAR program implementation Heavy teaching load l Diminishing financial support to Universities by Governments l Introduction of fee-paying programs and other income generating activities at Universities to ensure sustainability l Research institutes developing training programs as income generating
Barriers to scientific communication l Dependence on foreign funding for research activities l l l Data ownership? Limited support for data analysis Inadequate skills in scientific writing l Limited access to mentorship on scientific writing Limited access to journals Perception that established journals are really not interested in the materials from developing country researchers
Barriers to scientific communication l In the collaborative projects – vetting process a disincentive to writing eg. l Research/non l research determination process Under-valuing of publication of research work carried out by graduate students under faculty supervision
Barriers to scientific communication Competing activities necessary for survival l Poverty - poor remuneration by primary employer l in-order to survive, individuals engage in other economic activities and therefore time for intellectual activities is diminished.
Incentives for writing and publishing Publish or perish – promotion is based on number of publications l Scholarship to scientific meetings linked to acceptance of an abstract l
Way forward… l Deliberate development of ongoing mentorship for scientific writing. l l Engage universities in a dialogue on the value of ‘time-protection’ for faculty to engage in research. l l Scientific writing skills building workshops linked to the AIDS conferences? Research track Deliberate support to African Universities to strengthen financial stability without sacrificing research and scientific development
Muchas Gracias
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