Publication of pediatric residency research theses from Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand

Abstract

Background:The Royal College of Pediatricians of Thailand requires that all its residents complete a full thesis before their final Thai Pediatric Board Examination. The Department of Pediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University (PSU) has been certified for pediatric residency training since 1985. Objectives: To determine the number of articles published in medical journals that are based on the theses of residents during 25 years of pediatric resident training, and how long after finishing their residency training the articles were published. Methods: Medical journal databases were searched for the names of former pediatric residents. The faculty staff who had supervised them during their training were asked to confirm whether the residents had published their work. Results: During the 25 years (1988-2012), we found records of 34 articles based on the theses of 130 residents published in a medical journal (26%). In the early phase (1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002), 15 articles from 67 theses (22%) were published: 10 (67%) in Thai or regional English language journals, and 5 (33%) in international peer-reviewed journals. In the second phase (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012), 19 articles from 63 theses (30%) were published: 6 (32%) in regional English language journals, and 13 (68%) in peer-reviewed international journals. Conclusions:The publication rate of PSU pediatric residency research theses during the 25 years was 26%. We recommend that our faculty devote more time to ensuring supervision of the thesis writing component of the residency training to increase the publication rate of research theses by our residents.

Publication rate of 309 MMed dissertations submitted between 1996 and 2017: Can registrars fulfil HPCSA Form 57 MED amendments?

“…Post-submission time to publication of journal articles is highly variable, with a wide range of 1 -7 years for Turkish general surgeon residents [11] and 16 -21 months for Thai paediatric residents. [12] Comparisons are difficult, because of novel reporting in the current study of presubmission publication, which does not feature in the perused literature. Presubmission publication is advantageous: registrars, once their training is concluded, have little interest in devoting time to writing an article and tackling ensuing journal submission procedures.…”