Do Medical Students Who Participate in a Research Gap Year Produce More Research During Residency?

Abstract

Background: The research gap year has become increasingly popular among medical students. It is also a well-known factor in consideration for orthopaedic surgery residency programs. Although medical students who participated in a research gap year typically enter residency with more research experience than their counterparts, it is unknown whether this translates to increased research productivity during residency compared with their peers. The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) whether residents who participated in a research gap year during medical school publish more peer-reviewed publications than their peers during residency, (2) whether residents who participated in a research gap year during medical school publish more first-author publications than their peers during residency, and (3) which applicant characteristics are associated with a greater number of peer-reviewed publications produced during residency. Methods: The number of peer-reviewed journal publications before and during residency was determined by querying PubMed for 81 orthopaedic surgery residents at two academic institutions. Electronic residency application service applications and curriculum vitae were reviewed to evaluate the number of conference podiums and conference posters presented before residency and during residency. The research productivity of residents who participated in a research gap year during medical school was compared with that of residents who had not participated in a research gap year. Multivariate regression was done to determine predictors of publishing peer-reviewed journal publications during residency. Results: Residents who participated in a research gap year during medical school produced more peer-reviewed journal publications during residency than those who did not (22.0 ± 20 versus 16.5 ± 20, P = 0.025). However, residents who participated in a research gap year did not produce more first-author publications compared with their peers (7.6 ± 10.0 versus 7.9 ± 7.0, P = 0.12). Residents who produced more publications before residency produced more publications while in residency (R = 0.363, P < 0.001). The United States Medical Licensing Examination step 1 score, medical school ranking, and sex were not associated with any difference in the number of journal publications produced during residency. Conclusion: A dedicated research year during medical school is associated with an increase in the number of peer-reviewed publications produced during residency. However, students who completed a research year did not publish more first-author publications than their peers. The number of publications before residency was a strong predictor of research output as a resident.

Which Application Factors Are Associated With Outstanding Performance in Orthopaedic Surgery Residency?

“…Despite this, research activity remains one of the major variables considered by most orthopaedic training programs, both community and academic, in their evaluation of applicants [12,33]. Applicants with extensive research backgrounds are more heavily recruited with the hope and expectation that they will remain productive researchers in residency [39]. Research output directly affects faculty member promotion at academic institutions and potentiates their involvement in national orthopaedic societies.…”

“…Although research is not a primary focus for many residents, research productivity was included as a criterion because research activity is a major variable considered by most orthopaedic training programs in their evaluation of applicants [12,20,33]. Both residency and fellowship programs hope that their applicants will be productive researchers while training and thus typically recruit applicants with extensive research backgrounds more heavily [5,28,39]. Finally, personality was included as a parameter because a sizeable body of literature from over a dozen centers exists with the goal of identifying personality traits such as grit, selfcontrol, and conscientiousness [3,15,18,19,34].…”

Association Between Preresidency Peer-reviewed Publications and Future Academic Productivity or Career Choice Among Ophthalmology Residency Applicants

“…Cruz et al defined academic productivity based upon faculty status and academic productivity score, a combination of various achievements and activities that are important for a successful academic career, such as postresidency research publications, faculty status, grants, editorial board membership, reviewer appointment, and mentorship. This study, like others, defined academic productivity based on the number of PubMed indexed PRPs, as this provides an objective quantitative score and is an academic standard …”

Gap Year Research Fellowship Opportunities for Medical Students Interested in Orthopaedic Surgery

“…Recent studies by Wright-Chisem et al and Kohlert et al examined publication rates before and during orthopaedic and otolaryngology residency, respectively. 27 , 28 The authors found that applicants who publish research before residency are significantly more likely to continue publishing during residency (Wright-Chisem et al; P < 0.001, Kohlert et al; P < 0.001). In addition, Wright-Chisem et al 27 found that residents who completed a gap year research fellowship produced significantly more peer-reviewed publications than those who did not complete a research fellowship ( P = 0.025).…”

“… 27 , 28 The authors found that applicants who publish research before residency are significantly more likely to continue publishing during residency (Wright-Chisem et al; P < 0.001, Kohlert et al; P < 0.001). In addition, Wright-Chisem et al 27 found that residents who completed a gap year research fellowship produced significantly more peer-reviewed publications than those who did not complete a research fellowship ( P = 0.025). These studies demonstrate the lasting effect a research fellowship can have once an applicant matches into residency.…”