Research is a part of every person’s daily life. It may not appear like it but there are many things that we conduct research on. It can be about new places to eat at, which airline offers the best deals, or which supplier to get office products from. Whether it be for work or for personal use, research is something that has become part and parcel of day-to-day activities.
Although there are individuals who are certified researchers, this does not mean that other professionals cannot conduct their own research when their work requires it from them. Not only is conducting their own research more cost efficient, it also allows a person to get the results they need in real-time. When done correctly, research can prove to be a useful skill for any individual to have. Everyone from teachers, chefs, carpenters, to the top surgeons can benefit from doing their own research from time to time.
Research defined
Research is a system of creative work that a person undertakes in order to add to an individual’s knowledge database. The process includes the aggregation, assemblage, and analysis of info to improve overall comprehension of the topic on hand. Aside from acquiring new knowledge, research can also focus on the development of previously started work in a specific field.
Medical research
In the medical industry, research is composed of a wide scope of disciplines, some examples of which are: biology, pharmacology, chemistry, as well as toxicology. The main goal of research in the medical arena is to develop new procedures and new medicines. Furthermore, research can help improve any existing medical applications.
More often than not, it is a medical researcher who is employed to take on these tasks. However, this does not mean that other practitioners in the healthcare industry are restricted from conducting their own studies. As of late, hospitals and other medical facilities are encouraging their employees to take on as much research and as often as they possibly can. Among them, doctors, particularly surgeons are being asked to participate more in basic sciences – including research.
Importance of research for surgeons
In general, research is important because it allows individuals to validate whether a hypothesis or specific framework is interpreted accurately. Research allows for the collection of substantial knowledge and discovery for allocating them in a suitable manner. Additionally, research is a great way to foster explorative questions which can aid existing queries or push people to probe for more answers.
How research affects the medical industry
Above all else, the primary benefit of research is to figure out which treatments will work the best for patients. Thanks to studies, many have been able to discover new forms of treatment and methods of using these medicines or procedures correctly. Similarly, research is a means to find solutions to many unknown concerns in the medical arena, it helps fill in the gaps while replacing the way healthcare practitioners work.
Research can help in diagnosing diseases and health concerns both old and new ones. Because of exploration and analysis, there is a bigger chance of preventing the progression or the reinfection of diseases thus vastly reducing the total number of individuals who become sick. Likewise, researching can lead to the treatment of unknown illnesses which then boosts the odds of survival or ensure that more individuals are cured of diseases. More notably, when surgeons do research they can improve the overall quality of life for everyone who is suffering from a disease.
Conducting studies, as well as clinical testing, are common practice especially since many people benefit from studies and analytical reviews. Ultimately, research of the highest quality at the clinical level can assist and improve healthcare.
Can surgeons do research?
Over the years, surgeons have been doing less and less research much to the dismay of the healthcare industry. Historically, physicians have been conducting their own investigations and in an effort to re-establish the practice surgeons are being encouraged to perform research more often.
Compared to departments that aren’t of a surgical nature, surgeons claim to have little time and hardly any motivation to begin research. Not to mention, many departments are severely lacking in funding and support from the hospital board.
Due to time constraints surgeons face, they spend less time on putting together groundwork and experimentation as opposed to other physicians. Just like other faculty members in the medical field, surgeons experience similar growth in duties on the administrative level. Since countless hospitals have always depended on the income generated by surgeons, there is little motivation given in demanding they do more of their own research.
Although surgeons do not often do exploration, they can conduct one should they see it fit. If anything they are being persuaded to study and examine medical concerns as often as possible. Right now, the challenge is for facilities to have enough funding and also be able to provide surgeons with enough motivation to spend their time working on testing.
How the lack of surgeons doing research is problematic
The low number of surgeons conducting research studies have become problematic and must be addressed since translational medicine studies are in much need of them. Because surgeons have always dominated transplant surgery and immunology, it is only fitting for these areas innovations that can be discovered from research and testing.
More importantly, research is crucial in finding new ways to treat diseases surgically. For instance, studies related to disorders in adults or congenital birth defects have yet to be explored fully. Hopefully, any future research in these fields can translate to surgical methods which experienced surgeons can one day implement.
Thanks to efforts made in medical research, doctors are able to, determine the best ways patients can be treated. In operating theaters, surgeons and surgical staff come prepared with various procedures which they can implement to treat a patient. Outside of operating rooms, surgeons contribute by providing research for the development of new medicine, tools, and procedures. The lack of studies has slowed down these innovations leaving individuals with illnesses with limited treatment options. Hopefully, more surgeons are encouraged to take on these fact-finding projects.