Abstract: Objective To investigate the attitude of graduates from Peking University Third Hospital towards degree thesis writing and put forward suggestions to improve the quality of degree thesis. Methods This study used interview and questionnaire survey method. Ten graduates from Peking University Third Hospital were interviewed. Difficulties of thesis writing and expected instructions were collected. Then questionnaires were designed based on literature review and the interview results. One hundred and eighty five graduates of Peking University Third Hospital were chosen by stratified sampling and then were surveyed by questionnaires. Results There were 83.8%(155/185) of graduates, who expressed that degree thesis writing was difficult. Discussion depth, statistical methods and innovation were the most common difficulties in degree thesis writing. There were statistically significant differences in the difficulty of degree thesis writing among different types of degree applicants (F=3.896, P=0.001). Writing skills、writing logic、mining and refining of the results were the most common writing instructions that graduates were expected to receive. Conclusions Most graduates felt difficult in degree thesis writing. Writing difficulties varied from different types of degree applicants. It is necessary to strengthen the target-oriented training and to improve thesis writing in combination with practice.

Key words: Degree thesis writing, Postgraduate education, Investigation, Solutions