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Background <p>Research is a cornerstone of medical progress and a vital component to promote a country’s sustainable development by optimizing healthcare practices, policies, and delivery. Ethiopia has low research productivity and contributions to the international literature. Despite research importance in promoting evidence-based medicine and improving the quality of patient care, medical doctors in Ethiopia face significant challenges engaging in research activities. This study explored the barriers and facilitators to conducting research among medical doctors in public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.</p> Methods <p>A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in Alert Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and General Jagama Kello Memorial Health Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Fourteen in-depth interviews were conducted with doctors at different career stages, including general practitioners, specialists, and sub-specialists, with a comparable gender balance and different levels of research experience. Three key informant interviews with doctors in leadership roles at the institutes, including a physician-researcher, provided additional insights. Data collection adhered to a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed using MAXQDA Version 24 and Microsoft Excel 2010 using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis approach.</p> Results <p>Key barriers identified include high clinical workloads, staff shortages, financial constraints, insufficient research training, poor institutional support, low motivation/research interest, and bureaucratic obstacles within health facilities. Facilitators included effective mentorship programs, institutional recognition and incentives, visible impact of research on clinical care, and tailored practical research training mentorship. Participants emphasized the need for comprehensive research training, protected research time, and access to funding to alleviate barriers and enhance research productivity.</p> Conclusions <p>Research participation among medical doctors in Ethiopia is influenced by interrelated factors at individual, interpersonal, institutional, and systemic levels, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, multi-level approach to strengthen research culture and productivity. Addressing the barriers to research requires a multifaceted approach involving capacity building and institutional support. Developing mentorship programs, providing financial incentives, and integrating comprehensive research training into medical curriculum may strengthen medical doctors’ research culture and productivity in Ethiopia.</p>

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Barriers and facilitators to conducting research among medical doctors in public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a qualitative study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月16日

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  • Bethelhem Solomon,
  • Edlawit Mesfin,
  • Hiwot Abayneh,
  • Simon Genet,
  • Firehiwot Tamiru,
  • Trhas Tadesse,
  • Meseret Gebre,
  • Jessica M. Sales

摘要

Background

Research is a cornerstone of medical progress and a vital component to promote a country’s sustainable development by optimizing healthcare practices, policies, and delivery. Ethiopia has low research productivity and contributions to the international literature. Despite research importance in promoting evidence-based medicine and improving the quality of patient care, medical doctors in Ethiopia face significant challenges engaging in research activities. This study explored the barriers and facilitators to conducting research among medical doctors in public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in Alert Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and General Jagama Kello Memorial Health Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Fourteen in-depth interviews were conducted with doctors at different career stages, including general practitioners, specialists, and sub-specialists, with a comparable gender balance and different levels of research experience. Three key informant interviews with doctors in leadership roles at the institutes, including a physician-researcher, provided additional insights. Data collection adhered to a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed using MAXQDA Version 24 and Microsoft Excel 2010 using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis approach.

Results

Key barriers identified include high clinical workloads, staff shortages, financial constraints, insufficient research training, poor institutional support, low motivation/research interest, and bureaucratic obstacles within health facilities. Facilitators included effective mentorship programs, institutional recognition and incentives, visible impact of research on clinical care, and tailored practical research training mentorship. Participants emphasized the need for comprehensive research training, protected research time, and access to funding to alleviate barriers and enhance research productivity.

Conclusions

Research participation among medical doctors in Ethiopia is influenced by interrelated factors at individual, interpersonal, institutional, and systemic levels, highlighting the need for a comprehensive, multi-level approach to strengthen research culture and productivity. Addressing the barriers to research requires a multifaceted approach involving capacity building and institutional support. Developing mentorship programs, providing financial incentives, and integrating comprehensive research training into medical curriculum may strengthen medical doctors’ research culture and productivity in Ethiopia.