Background and objectives : Poor research output is a major issue at some South African Universities especially among medical postgraduate students. A number of students struggle to complete the research component, which is a requirement for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Aim: To evaluate and uncover factors hindering research performance at a South African university, with a plan to implementing strategic and focused remedial action. Methods: Post-graduate students in the School of Medicine were enrolled in a cross-sectional descriptive study. Using self-administered questionnaires, students were requested to provide information on barriers hindering research performance. Raw data from questionnaires was captured and analysed using STATA software. Results: A total 125 questionnaires were returned however some participants did not answer all the questions. The major reasons for non-performance were cited as; lack of prior research experience with only 14 per cent having had prior research exposure. Regarding association of research methodology (REME) course attendance with students starting research activities, 90 per cent of those that had attended the REME course, had started research activities at the time of this study. Research supervision was cited as inadequate by 48 per cent of respondents, while 61 per cent cited excessive workload as factor another factor hampering research course attendance and research participation. Most students indicated the need to have research taught and incorporated in the Masters curriculum, with time ring-fenced for research activities. Conclusion: Prior research exposure and attendance of a research course were important factors influencing students’ participation in research and should be encouraged. The institution should strive to improve supervisory and mentoring support as well as provide bio-statistics support. There is a need to ring-fence time specifically for research activities in order to counter the workload issue as a deterrent to research activities.

中文翻译：

---

战略和重点解决方案，以解决医学研究生在南非大学进行研究时所面临的挑战

背景和目标：研究成果不佳是一些南非大学的主要问题，特别是在医学研究生中。许多学生都在努力完成研究部分，这是向南非卫生专业委员会（HPCSA）注册的要求。目的：评估并发现阻碍南非大学研究表现的因素，并计划实施战略性和重点补救措施。方法：对医学院的研究生进行横断面描述性研究。使用自我管理的问卷，要求学生提供有关阻碍研究表现的障碍的信息。使用STATA软件捕获并分析了来自问卷的原始数据。结果：共返回了125份问卷，但是一些参与者没有回答所有问题。不履行的主要原因是：缺乏先前的研究经验，只有14％的人具有先前的研究经验。关于将研究方法学（REME）课程参加与开始研究活动的学生联系起来，参加REME课程的学生中有90％在本研究时已开始研究活动。48％的受访者认为研究监督不足，而61％的人认为工作量过多是阻碍研究课程出勤率和研究参与度的另一个因素。大多数学生表示有必要教授研究课程并将其纳入硕士课程，并花一些时间从事研究活动。结论：事先的研究接触和参加研究课程是影响学生参与研究的重要因素，应予以鼓励。该机构应努力改善监督和指导支持，并提供生物统计支持。为了研究工作量问题，有必要专门为研究活动设定时间，以阻止研究活动。