Scientific medical research and publication in Nigeria

Abstract

Research involves undertaking systematic scientific investigation in order to discover new facts or get additional information needed to elucidate a particular problem. Scientific research seeks primarily to advance knowledge. Scientific Medical research seek not only to advance knowledge, but in its applied form seeks to make use of the knowledge so acquired, in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases1. Ill health has a major impact on the economic situation and well-being of an individual in any society. This is particularly true in the lower income countries (where social safety nets are weak or non-existent) and for the absolute poor, due to the vicious circle of poverty and ill-health2. Conversely, improvement in health will boost the individual’s level of income (due to lower treatment cost, higher revenue, a longer-term increase in revenue due to better work opportunities and overall growth in revenues due to longer life-expectancy). It will also improve the individual’s capacity to acquire an education, increase the family’s productive opportunities and greatly improve the psychological well-being of both the individual and family. The benefit of good health will be even greater for the absolute poor, as they may transform the vicious circle of poverty into a virtuous cycle, with better nutrition, lower risk of unemployment or underemployment, better housing, better use of training opportunities, higher productivity and overall, better control over their life situation and that of their family How good and beneficial a research finding may be, it can only be useful if shared with others. This is what communication of research findings is all about. Communication of research findings can be either in oral presentation in a conference/scientific meetings or presentation in a written form otherwise known as publication. There are three main types of publications – Thesis or dissertation, Book or Monograph and a Journal Article. The aim of this presentation is to review the logical steps in scientific medical research, discuss the types of publications, identify challenges in research and publication in Nigeria and proffer some solution to overcome these challenges.