Content analysis of the South African MMed mini-dissertation
Afr. j. health prof. educ
; 12(2): 56-61, 2020. ilus
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1256891
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background. There is no baseline information on the South African (SA) MMed mini-dissertation, which became a compulsory (and controversial) research component for specialist registration in 2011.Objective. To obtain evidence-based information regarding the current composition of the research output of the MMed mini-dissertation.Methods. SA MMed mini-dissertations (N=307) were downloaded from electronic theses and dissertation websites and 8 university repositories that provide specialist training. Fourteen variables were noted for each mini-dissertation, the data were entered into an Excel (2016) (Microsoft, USA) spreadsheet and analysed using descriptive statistics.Results. The 307 mini-dissertations, representing 24 of the Colleges of Medicine of SA, were submitted from 1996 to 2018, mainly in monograph format (76%) and almost equally divided between prospective and retrospective studies. Observational studies predominated, with meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials comprising 5% of the sample. Although quantitative investigations dominated (82%), just less than half of these used statistics to test variables. Confirmed ethical compliance improved from 41% in pre-2011 dissertations to 83% for dissertations submitted during 2015 - 2018.Conclusions. This study provides descriptive data on the SA MMed mini-dissertation. Comparisons indicate that the MMed research component compares favourably with the content and research approach of similar international specialist trainee research outputs
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Retrospective Studies
/
Statistics, Nonparametric
/
Qualitative Research
/
Animal Care Committees
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
Language:
English
Journal:
Afr. j. health prof. educ
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
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