Medical thesis publication and academic productivity of pediatric residents at the Medical University of Marseille: Associated factors and evolution over 20 years

Publication rate and factors associated with publication of research projects by obstetrics residents in an academic department over 10 years

OBJECTIVES

To determine the publication rate of mandatory research projects conducted by obstetrics residents and to evaluate the publication-associated factors and reported obstacles.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive residents in an academic obstetrics-gynecology department in Paris, France, between 2010 and 2020. All residents were required to conduct a research project. Information about publication was collected by searching PubMed. A closed-ended questions questionnaire was sent to former residents about their characteristics, subsequent professional development, and research project characteristics. Factors associated with publication were identified by univariable and multivariable analysis with logistic regression.

RESULTS

During the study period, 156 residents trained in our obstetrics-gynecology department. The overall publication rate was 30.8% (48/156) and the median time to publication 27 months (IQR, 18-37). The resident was first author in 36 (75.0%) publications. Among the 130 (83.3%) residents who completed the questionnaire, 43 (33%) had published their research project. Overall, 74/130 (60.8%) residents used their project for their mandatory medical thesis. Factors associated with publication in univariable analysis were younger age (median), completion of a PhD, planned career in academic medicine, prospective study design, presentation at a conference or congress and use their project for their medical thesis. The only factors associated with publication in the multivariable analysis were planned career in academic medicine (aOR 5.62 95 %CI[1.84-17.19]) and the prospective study design of the research project (aOR 6.1 95 %CI[1.24-29.56]). The main reasons for nonpublication reported by resident were lack of time and failure to complete the project.

CONCLUSION

Among the mandatory clinical research projects conducted by obstetrics residents over a decade in our department, 30.8% were published. The main factors associated with publication were planned career in academic medicine and a prospective design of the research project.

Bibliometric analysis of orthopedic theses in Turkey

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the topics distribution trend and evaluate the characteristics of orthopedics and traumatology residency theses during a 20-year period using a bibliometric analysis.

Materials and methods

Between January 2000 and December 2020, orthopedics and traumatology residency theses of all centers providing postgraduate education in Turkey were reviewed from the online application of the National Thesis Center of Higher Education Council. Using the advanced search screen, a total of 1,907 theses were reached. Massachusetts University Orthopaedics and Traumatology Fellowship Programs and Turkish Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology sub-study groups.

Results

During the study period, the three most studied topics ones were orthopedic trauma (n=536; 28.1%), adult reconstruction and arthroplasty (n=301; 15.8%) and spine surgery (n=203; 10.6%). The least studied subject was bone and soft tissue tumors with 3.8% (n=73). The topic with the highest rate of publication in all years was again orthopedic trauma. There was a very strong positive (r=0.876) correlation between the total number of thesis publications and the years (p<0.001; R2=0.767). Based on institutions types, the number of theses published in the training and research hospitals increased as of 2016. More theses were published than expected on orthopedic trauma, adult reconstruction and arthroplasty, sports injuries and arthroscopy, shoulder and elbow surgery, foot and ankle surgery in the training and research hospitals (p=0.003).

Conclusion

The orthopedic research trends were differentiated over the years in our country. The classification of the orthopedic thesis topics shows in which orthopedics subfield research subjects are concentrated in our country and in which fields, research is needed.