Research competencies and barriers to research among radiology professionals in Sucre, Bolivia: an explanatory sequential mixed methods study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63688/ihs.v3.i2.100Keywords:
research competencies, radiology, health services research, research barriers, mixed methods.Abstract
Introduction: Research in radiology requires competencies that enable clinical problems to be transformed into scientific evidence; however, their development may be constrained by educational and organizational factors. Objective: To analyze research competencies and barriers to research among radiology professionals in Sucre, Bolivia, during 2025. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted. The quantitative phase used a census of 150 professionals and two validated questionnaires: research competencies, 45 items, Aiken's V=0.95 and Cronbach's α=0.912; and research barriers, 30 items, Aiken's V=0.92 and α=0.906. The qualitative phase included interviews with four managers and a focus group of 10 professionals. Results: Overall research competencies were low in 53% of participants. The greatest weaknesses were scientific collaboration and scientific production. Institutional barriers reached 93% in high/very high levels, structural barriers 91%, and interinstitutional articulation barriers 89%. Qualitative findings linked these patterns to clinical workload, lack of protected research time, insufficient methodological training, limited resources, and weak hospital-university collaboration. Conclusions: Strengthening research capacity requires multilevel interventions combining training, mentoring, protected time, funding, and collaborative networks.References
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Copyright (c) 2026 David Vedia Pacheco, Graciela Mamani Torres, Shirley Natali Plaza Murillo, Adelaida Cardozo Miranda, Yamil Ali Cruz, Jimy Michael Soliz Morales (Author)
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