Compliance with research standards within gynecologic oncology fellowship: A Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Research Network (GOFRN) study

Survey of trends in authorship assignment in gynecologic oncology: Keeping score and playing fair

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30.6% of responding gynecologic oncologists reported assignment of authorship that did not meet ICMJE criteria.

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The majority reported that ICMJE criteria were generalizable, helpful and considered non-adherence as scientific misconduct.

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Fellows and faculty in their first five year of practice were more likely not adhere to ICMJE authorship criteria.

Authorship confers credit to those responsible for a publication. In 1985, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors criteria were founded to standardize authorship assignment. We sought to investigate practices and values in authorship assignment in Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) members. An anonymous online survey was distributed to SGO members from 09/2018–10/2018. Three multivariable logistic regression models were fit to predict ICJME authorship acceptance, assignment and denial. Of 1111 members surveyed, 266 responses were received (23.9%); 30.6% reported prior authorship assignment that did not meet ICMJE criteria, and 18.8% (n = 50) reported a history of accepting authorship not meeting ICJME criteria. Reasons for non-adherence included: inclusion of the author’s patients in the study (59.3%), resumé building (45.7%), and networking for career advancement (22.2%). The majority responded that ICJME criteria were generalizable (91.3%), helpful (83.8%), and considered non-adherence as scientific misconduct (66.0%). On multivariable analysis, practice duration of 5–20 years (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.16, 0.99, p < 0.05) or > 20 years (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08, 0.59, p < 0.05) were significant predictors for adherence with ICMJE authorship assignment compared to fellows and those in practice < 5 years. Similarly, practice duration of 5–20 years (HR 10.0, 95% CI 2.0, 49.2, p < 0.05) or > 20 years (HR 25.9, 95% CI 1.06, 3.9, p < 0.05) were significant predictors for denial of authorship assignment compared to fellows and those in practice < 5 years. While the majority of respondents report that ICJME criteria are helpful, adherence to these criteria is a concern, especially in fellows and early-career faculty.

The perceptions of gynecologic oncology fellows on readiness for subspecialty training following OB/GYNRESIDENCY

A recent survey of fellowship program directors (PD) within gynecologic oncology (GO) noted concerns regarding the abilities of incoming fellows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of current and former fellows in gynecologic oncology of their readiness for fellowship training. A previously used survey was modified and distributed in 2016 to current and former fellows in GO. The survey explored domains of independent practice, psychomotor ability, clinical evaluation and scholarship. A standard Likert scale was employed and domains/responses were tailored to the subspecialty. A total of 150 current and recently former fellows responded to the survey, for a response rate of 38.7%. Nearly 70% of respondents reported being able to independently perform a hysterectomy when starting fellowship, and nearly 50% felt they could perform lysis of adhesions either without assistance. Although nearly 95% reported having had the opportunity to develop a plan of action for patients on labor and delivery, only 40.7% felt able to independently manage postoperative complications without assistance. Common themes that emerged in the open-ended responses pertained to self-perception of inadequate surgical skills and knowledge specific to gynecologic oncology. Although the majority of current and former fellows in gynecologic oncology report feeling prepared for fellowship, themes noted in the open-ended responses suggest a lack of confidence in surgical skills and clinical knowledge.

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The majority of current and former GO fellows report feeling prepared for fellowship.

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Discrepancies were noted between our study and results of a prior survey of fellowship directors.

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Open-ended responses suggested lack of confidence in surgical skills and in clinical knowledge.