Research methodology: how to maximize your research potential

Scientific education and a clinical background allow orthopaedic surgeons to perform leading research. Several resources, skills and techniques may be developed to maximize their research potential. Surgeon-researchers should develop Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-defined (SMART) goals. It is critical to define a timeline – which can be 1 year, 3 years, 5 years – to re-evaluate goals and to plan and identify potential obstacles. Physician-scientists are a product of training, funding, resources, practice setting, context, environment, and infrastructure. Although orthopaedic surgery has difficulty in recruiting surgeon-scientists, these are essential for the promotion of advances in technologies and treatment, as they have unique abilities to raise questions from the bedside and the operating room. The most critical personal traits necessary to succeed as a surgeon-scientist are persistence, resilience, and passion for research. These traits may be innate or acquired through mentorship and from role models. Mentors can improve mentees’ research efficiency and help them to persevere. Clinical researchers and surgeon-scientists should focus their research interests and efforts in their areas of clinical expertise. For surgeon-researchers to succeed they must have passion for research, persistence in working toward a goal, collaboration/teamwork skills, resilience, research training/experience, a track record of publications, clear goals and expectations, and a defined research plan as well as being clinically excellent. A formal research degree is desirable. Having non-clinician scientists in the team brings added expertise and value. Funding and protected research time are important. To provide outstanding clinical care and improve the quality of the care delivered, surgeons must be leaders in innovation and research. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170065