BMJ 2015;350:h283 doi: 10.1136/bmj.h283 (Published 20 January 2015)
Page 1 of 1
Letters
LETTERS WASTAGE IN CLINICAL TRIALS
Involvement of medical students and junior doctors in research Michael T Stoddart foundation doctor Royal United Hospital, Bath BA1 3NG, UK
What a waste of public money, patients’ time, and the time of those at the bottom of the research ladder—interviewers, questionnaire writers, and data collectors.1
Medical students and junior doctors try to stand out among their peers. Publications mean extra marks on application to the Foundation Programme or for further training. Chapman and colleagues found that 21% of surgical trials stopped early, and 34% of those that carried on were not published2—a waste of time for clinical researchers and junior members of the team.
With highly intensive courses, it takes hard work and determination for medical students and junior doctors to become involved in research projects. It is therefore disheartening that more than 40% of randomised controlled trials are described as a waste.
What should medical students and junior doctors do if they are interested in research or simply wish to improve their CVs? Should intercalated degrees be the only activity before registration? Here there is supervision, a realistic project, and an achievable timescale? We need a mentor to support us in our academic aspirations and we also need to be advised honestly about projects so that we do not contribute to the waste. Competing interests: None declared. 1 2
Ioannidis JPA. Clinical trials: what a waste. BMJ 2014;349:g7089. (10 December.) Chapman SJ, Shelton B, Mahmood H, Fitzgerald JE, Harrison EM, Bhangu A. Discontinuation and non-publication of surgical randomised controlled trials: observational study. BMJ 2014;349:g6870. (9 December.)
Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h283 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2015
[email protected] For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
Page 1 of 1
Letters
LETTERS WASTAGE IN CLINICAL TRIALS
Involvement of medical students and junior doctors in research Michael T Stoddart foundation doctor Royal United Hospital, Bath BA1 3NG, UK
What a waste of public money, patients’ time, and the time of those at the bottom of the research ladder—interviewers, questionnaire writers, and data collectors.1
Medical students and junior doctors try to stand out among their peers. Publications mean extra marks on application to the Foundation Programme or for further training. Chapman and colleagues found that 21% of surgical trials stopped early, and 34% of those that carried on were not published2—a waste of time for clinical researchers and junior members of the team.
With highly intensive courses, it takes hard work and determination for medical students and junior doctors to become involved in research projects. It is therefore disheartening that more than 40% of randomised controlled trials are described as a waste.
What should medical students and junior doctors do if they are interested in research or simply wish to improve their CVs? Should intercalated degrees be the only activity before registration? Here there is supervision, a realistic project, and an achievable timescale? We need a mentor to support us in our academic aspirations and we also need to be advised honestly about projects so that we do not contribute to the waste. Competing interests: None declared. 1 2
Ioannidis JPA. Clinical trials: what a waste. BMJ 2014;349:g7089. (10 December.) Chapman SJ, Shelton B, Mahmood H, Fitzgerald JE, Harrison EM, Bhangu A. Discontinuation and non-publication of surgical randomised controlled trials: observational study. BMJ 2014;349:g6870. (9 December.)
Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h283 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2015
[email protected] For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
