Publication of Research Presented at STFM and NAPCRG Conferences

Abstract

PURPOSE Presentations of research are important in the dissemination of new knowledge, but they do not reach the same audience as research published in journals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proportion of presentations at recent major primary care research conferences that have become published. METHODSOral and poster presentations for completed and work-in-progress projects from the 2007 and 2008 North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) annual conferences were included in the analysis. The fi rst presenter for each presentation was searched on PubMed, and titles and abstracts for presentations were compared for content to titles and abstracts of potential matches found on PubMed. We analyzed the proportion of presentations that were published in peer-reviewed journals, mean time to publication, and the proportions of the type of journal in which the article appeared (family medicine vs other) were analyzed.RESULTS There were 1,329 presentations included in the study. Overall, 34.4% of projects presented were also published. More oral presentations (42.9%) were published than were poster presentations (25.3%) (P <.001). Mean time to publication was 15.4 months. Oral presentations were published more quickly (13.7 months) than poster presentations (18.6 months) (P <.001). Published reports appeared in 192 different journals. Family medicine journals accounted for 36.5% of published.CONCLUSIONS More than one-third of all presentations at STFM and NAPCRG conferences were published in journals indexed in PubMed. Time to publication was comparable to that of other specialties. Fewer than 2 of every 5 reports were published are in a family medicine journal, suggesting vast breadth in family medicine research. Family medicine academicians need to refocus efforts on transforming presentations into published articles in peer-reviewed journals for broader dissemination of research fi ndings.

A nationwide postal survey on the perception of Malaysian public healthcare providers on family medicine specialists’ (PERMFAMS) clinical performance, professional attitudes and research visibility

“…However, owing to the many duties and responsibilities of a public FMS, many might not be able to publish previous works or initiate new research projects (Weber-Main et al 2013 ). It was reported that even in the United States only about one-thirds of all the abstracts presented in family medicine and primary care conferences were actually published (Post et al 2013 ). Thus, FMSs would need to enhance personal motivation, professional skills in research collaboration with other FMSs or academic FMSs in research project, scientific writing and publication.…”

BUILDING RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP CAPACITY IN DEPARTMENTS OF FAMILY MEDICINE: A NEW JOINT ADFM-NAPCRG INITIATIVE

“…Most departments of family medicine have neither built the critical mass nor marshaled the level of resources necessary to develop sustainable research programs and struggle to do so. 7,8 The Task Force Some departments have successfully developed research programs to a stage of sustainability as noted above. We believe that all departments can and should learn from each other and attempt to leverage these successes.…”

In This Issue: Practice Change--Context Matters

“…16 A study of presentations at the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the North American Primary Care Research Group fi nds that a surprising (to me at least) number or presentations become publications, and (not surprisingly) appear in a wide variety of journals. 17 Finally, the Annals is delighted to announce the publication of its fi rst book, The Wonder and the Mystery: 10 Years of Refl ections from the Annals of Family Medicine. 18 We are confi dent that you will enjoy these meaningful and well-written refl ections and encourage you to consider submitting your refl ections to the Annals as well.…”