Research productivity during orthopedic surgery residency correlates with pre-planned and protected research time: a survey of German-speaking countries

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify modifiable factors associated with research activity among residents working in orthopedic surgery and traumatology. Methods Residents at 796 university-affiliated hospitals in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland were invited to participate. The online survey consisted of questions that ascertained 13 modifiable and 17 non-modifiable factors associated with the residents' current research activities. Responses of 129 residents were analyzed. Univariate linear regression was used to determine the association of individual factors with the current research activity (hours per week). The impact of significant non-modifiable factors (with unadjusted p values < 0.05) was controlled for using multivariate linear regression. Results The univariate analysis demonstrated six non-modifiable factors that were significantly associated with the current research activity: a University hospital setting (p < 0.001), an A-level hospital setting (p = 0.024), Swiss residents (p = 0.0012), the completion of a dedicated research year (p = 0.007), female gender (p = 0.016), and the department's size (p = 0.048). Multivariate regression demonstrated that the number of protected research days per year (p < 0.029) and the percentage of protected days, that were known 1 week before (p < 0.001) or the day before (p < 0.001), were significantly associated with a higher research activity. Conclusions As hypothesized, more frequent and predictable protected research days were associated with higher research activity among residents in orthopedic surgery and traumatology. Level of evidence III.

Current Requirements and Attitudes Toward Research: A Survey-Based Analysis of Orthopedic Surgery Programs

“…Time is perhaps the most invaluable yet overlooked resource to support research [ 5 , 6 ]. Despite a consensus on the importance of research during training and a near consensus (97.5%) of research activity as a graduation requirement, 45% of programs do not provide protected time to participate in research; those that do provide a median of nine weeks and six weeks at academic and community programs, respectively.…”

Actividad científica e investigadora y grado de satisfacción de residentes de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología en diferentes hospitales de la red sanitaria en España

“…8 También Voss y su grupo indicaron en su estudio de 129 integrantes de residencia de COT en Austria, Alemania y Suiza, una mayor actividad científica en los médicos con tiempo asignado a faenas de investigación. 13 Sin embargo, otros estudios no encuentran un incremento de publicaciones en programas de formación con tiempo establecido para labores de investigación, aunque incluyen en su estudio las publicaciones de residentes y adjuntos. 14,15 En el presente estudio, los médicos contestaron que su plan individual de entrenamiento no incluía aspectos relacionados ni asignaba tiempo a la práctica investigadora.…”

“…Voss y colegas indicaron que estos doctores dedicaban mayor tiempo consagrado a tareas de investigación, aunque sin encontrar diferencias significativas en relación con los médicos de servicios con menor ocupación investigadora por parte de sus adjuntos. 13 En este estudio no se ha recogido la actividad investigadora de dichos adjuntos, pero sí la motivación de esos residentes por parte de los segundos, de tal modo, sólo uno de cada tres entrevistados respondieron que sí se sentían motivados por sus adjuntos para realizar gestión investigadora.…”

Research During Orthopaedic Training

“…Academic productivity must be incentivized, 30 and some form of protected, structured research time can be beneficial to both trainees and faculty members. [31][32][33][34] Many highly productive orthopaedic departments exist, and smaller programs can use them as a blueprint for their own success. 29,35 A strong collaborative departmental research portfolio should be cultivated.…”