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Net Letter
4 (
2
); 257-258
doi:
10.25259/JSSTD_70_2021

Non-teaching institutions – But surely not non-academic

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

*Corresponding author: Neelakandhan Asokan, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India. asokann65@gmail.com

Licence
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

How to cite this article: Asokan N. Non-teaching institutions – But surely not non-academic. J Skin Sex Transm Dis 2022;4:257-8.

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the article “Conducting research at non-teaching institutions: Challenges and solutions” by Goyal and Ravindran.[1] I appreciate the authors for discussing an important subject in depth and suggesting solutions to common challenges to research in non-teaching institutions. Concurring with most of their views, I would like to bring up a few more facets of the issue.

The authors have aptly highlighted the importance of literature search when planning for a study. Efficient literature search is a skill and it could be imparted, developed or improved by training.[2] This is one area which could be focused for capacity building for research, especially in non-teaching institutions.

Besides such purposeful literature search for a conceived research study, an aspiring researcher should read current literature regularly. Often the ideas for research would arise when one encounters clinical situations, in the context of the information gained from recent literature. To become a good singer, one needs to listen to a lot of music by others.[3] Similarly to do good research, one needs to read and understand what others do in the field.

Clinicians usually assume an air of “knowing what they need to know,” whereas the starting point of a researcher is a “gap in knowledge.” Switching the “hats” between clinician and researcher can be a challenge, especially in non-teaching institutions which are not inherently oriented towards research.[4]

For encouraging research, there should be attractive incentives. For individual researchers, it could be self-realization or self-actualization. Institutions may be sensitized about the potential to bring in research grants and enhancing their reputation and credibility in the society, through research.

Non-teaching institutions can gain much by collaborating with teaching institutions in research. Such collaborations can build on the positives of both. Collaboration among public and private institutions also would be rewarding. Besides, collaboration across specialties in the same institution too would be fruitful. Promoting a culture of in house journal clubs and conducting periodic continuing medical education programs aimed to promote and facilitate research also could be welcome steps.

Non-teaching institutions are definitely not non-academic ones. With sufficient intent, there is potential to create a lot of academic value there. In terms of geographic distribution and the patient load they handle, they probably outnumber teaching institutions. Tapping their enormous potential should be a priority for all stakeholders of research.

Acknowledgment

The author would like to thank Dr. K. S. Shaji, Professor of Psychiatry, for helping to develop some of the ideas through discussions.

Declaration of patient consent

Not required as there are no patients in this article.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

Dr. Neelakandhan Asokan is on the editorial board of the Journal.

References

  1. , . Conducting research at non-teaching institutions: Challenges and solutions. J Skin Sex Transm Dis. 2022;4:4-8.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  2. . Is literature search training for medical students and residents effective? A literature review. J Med Libr Assoc. 2012;100:270-6.
    [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. . Why Learning How to Listen Will Make You a Better Singer. . Available from: https://www.valeriedaysings.com/blog/why-learning-how-to-listen-will-make-you-abetter-singer [Last accessed on 2021 Sep 11]
    [Google Scholar]
  4. . Switching hats: Transitioning from the role of clinician to the role of researcher in social work doctoral education. J Teach Soc Work. 2007;27:273-90.
    [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

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