Factors Influencing Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Trainee Research Engagement

Abstract

Research engagement during physical medicine and rehabilitation residency and fellowship training is essential for advancing evidence-based medicine and fostering the development of clinician-scientists. Current Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education guidelines regarding research requirements during physical medicine and rehabilitation training are ambiguous, and it is unknown whether physical medicine and rehabilitation trainees receive adequate support to pursue research at the level they desire. This anonymous survey study aimed to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to research engagement among US physical medicine and rehabilitation residents and fellows. Our findings suggest that physical medicine and rehabilitation trainees value research engagement. However, research productivity during physical medicine and rehabilitation residency is limited, with many trainees reporting inadequate support and time to participate in research in a meaningful way. Additional support from residency and fellowship programs, including protected time for research, as well as research-specific education and mentorship should be considered to enhance physical medicine and rehabilitation trainee research engagement.