Increase Research Productivity Research Articles

Academic Engagement of Women as Orthopaedic Surgeons at the Annual Meetings of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association From 2012 to 2022.

Higher gender diversity correlates with higher patient satisfaction, higher-quality medical education, increased research productivity, and higher revenues. Although the field of Japanese orthopaedic surgery includes the lowest proportion ofwomen and lags in gender diversity, reports on the current gender diversity status in academic activities are scarce. We investigated changes in women's participation in academic activities at the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) annual meetings over the past 11 years. Data on the percentage of women in the JOA membership during 2012-2022 were analyzed to ascertain the proportion of women as first authors of oral and poster presentations, abstract reviewers, invited lecturers, seminar lecturers, general abstract oral chairpersons, symposium chairpersons, and speakers. Regarding the ratio of women among the JOA members during 2012-2022, we relied on data provided by the JOA. Data related to other categories were collected from the abstract book presented at the JOA Annual Meetings between 2012 and 2022. We analyzed the time trend for women's proportions using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. During 2012-2022, the percentage of female members (4.9-6.7%), poster first authors (2.7-4.3%), abstract reviewers (0-1.5%), general abstract oral chairpersons (0-2.3%), symposium chairpersons (0-3.6%), and symposium speakers (1.6-6.8%) had increased significantly (p < 0.05). Oral first authors (2.2-4.1%), invited lecturers (0-6.8%), or seminar lecturers (0%-6.7%) showed no trend. Women engaged in academic activities at all annual association meetings did not exceed the women's proportion among the association members. Although the proportion of women members of the JOA has gradually increased and more women are involved in its annual meetings, the proportion of female presenters, invited speakers, symposiasts, and chairpersons of oral and poster presentations is generally lower than that of women as JOA members. Members should be asked to raise awareness, including more active education of women as physicians in educational institutions and the creation of positive actions to select women as physicians for more important roles (chairpersons, educational speakers, and symposiasts) in the organization of annual meetings.

Barriers Preventing Medical Trainees from Active Participation in Research Activities.

Research has increasingly become important to career progression and a compulsory component in most medical programs. While medical trainees are consistently urged to undertake research endeavors, they frequently encounter obstacles at both personal and organizational levels that impede the pursuit of high-quality research. This study aims to identify the barriers and recommend successful interventions to increase research productivity amongst medical trainees. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among interns, residents, and fellows within a single hospital located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. The survey included inquiries regarding perceived obstacles hindering engagement in research activities, factors driving motivation for research involvement, and the assessment of how research participation relates to their job in terms of relevance. Fifty-seven medical trainees participated in the survey, reflecting a response rate of 53%. The survey highlighted common obstacles, notably including time constraints, insufficient statistical and methodology training, the weight of other educational commitments, as well as inadequate incentives and rewards. While a majority of participants expressed interest in engaging in research activities, the consensus was that more incentives and increased funding opportunities would significantly encourage their involvement. Implementing successful interventions such as allocating dedicated time for research, facilitating access to research mentors, and organizing training sessions have the potential to be effective strategies in fostering a thriving research culture and subsequently elevating research productivity of medical trainees.

The Power of Precision: Why Your Research Focus Should be SMART?

Having a SMART research focus is essential for researchers to achieve the desired results. By being specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, researchers can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their research. This study aims to explore the importance of having a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) research focus. This study used a descriptive-analytical approach by collecting data through literature review and analysis of existing research. The collected data is analyzed qualitatively by reading, understanding, and synthesizing relevant information. The results of this study show that a SMART research focus can increase research productivity, improve decision-making processes, and increase the chances of obtaining meaningful results. In conclusion, by adopting the SMART framework researchers can maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of research results significantly. Thus, this study provides a better understanding of the importance of having a SMART research focus and has implications for more effective and efficient research in the future.

Research promotion strategies to enhance research productivity in Tanzanian higher educational institutions

AbstractThere are low levels of research productivity among higher education institutions (HEIs) in Africa, which will likely compromise the continent's development agenda if not addressed. This study intends to develop a research framework to create a strategic roadmap that leverages leadership perspectives to foster a thriving research culture and contribute meaningfully to Tanzania's growth and development. We conducted a qualitative study involving higher education policy makers, senior university officials and academic staff from four sampled universities and two non‐university institutions that regulate Tanzania's higher education sector. The secondary data sources supported us in assessing the current state of research in Tanzanian HEI and the way forward. A thematic analysis revealed seven themes: research governance; capacity development strategy; reinforcement strategy; collaboration, networking and teamwork; establishment of research centres; dissemination strategy; and institutionalisation of research activities that can increase research productivity in the Tanzanian HEI context. This research adds to the literature on HEIs by identifying contextual strategy that can enhance research promotion in Tanzania and guide other African countries. In today's global information economy, research production is critical to the viability of HEIs and national development. This research aims to equip HEI leaders with a customised framework to help them direct their institutions towards research excellence and innovation.Context and implicationsRationale for this studyTanzania recognises the pivotal role of research in achieving socioeconomic objectives. The research productivity of higher education institutions (HEIs) is crucial in addressing local issues and fulfilling national agenda.Why the new findings matterThe findings reveal novel strategies for promoting research and how institutionalising them will enhance research engagement and productivity.ImplicationsThe research framework acts as a strategic guide for HEI policy makers that informs on how to encourage faculty and scholars and generate a better research output. The study shows how HEIs can institutionalise research, making it a part of its culture and mindset. The study has implications for the authorities and government bodies also, as the research productivity has a socio‐economic impact on national development.

Defining Predictors of Future Academic Productivity in Plastic Surgery Residency.

Research is a valued component of applications to plastic surgery residency. No prior studies have explored factors associated with increased resident research productivity. This study aims to compare the academic productivity levels of plastic surgery residency graduates based on their pre- and postresidency experiences. Residents graduating in 2019 and 2020 were identified from integrated programs. Metrics collected included the number of publications in medical school and residency. Descriptive statistics were completed along with linear regressions to evaluate the impact of these on academic productivity. A total of 221 residents from the classes of 2019 and 2020 were included. Most residents completed fellowship (75.9%) although less than half went on to academic practice (42.3%). Approximately one in five residents obtained secondary degrees (17.4%). Subjects averaged 3.15 (N = 208, SD = 4.51) publications while in medical school and 8.1 publications during residency (N = 209, SD = 10.0). For h-index calculated at the end of residency, having dedicated medical school research time was the only statistically significant factor (coefficient = 2.96, P = 0.002). Plastic surgery residents published more often as first authors and overall during residency than medical school, indicating increased research involvement and leadership. The present study builds upon prior studies by confirming the importance of dedicated medical school research time and its lasting impact. Understanding the associations of academic factors with increased research productivity in residency is relevant for both applicants and programs evaluating residency candidates.

Interventions to enhance the research productivity of academic staff in higher education schools of nursing: A systematic review

AimSynthesize and present peer-reviewed evidence of interventions that enhance the research productivity of academics in Schools of Nursing in Higher Education Institutions. BackgroundPressures on academics in Schools of Nursing worldwide to increase or maintain high research productivity persist and numerous Higher Education Institutions across the world have developed interventions to increase productivity. Given evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a withdrawal from research, understanding which interventions best support and improve research productivity is urgent. Increasing research capacity is crucial but only one element in increasing productivity. No recent attempt has been made to synthesise the knowledge gained from these more wide-ranging initiatives. DesignA mixed-methods systematic review, registered in PROSPERO, searching four academic databases (CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) from 1/01/2010–20/04/2022. All primary research studies of relevant interventions were included if they described the intervention, reported its outcomes and were published in the English language in peer-reviewed journals. Results1637 studies were assessed against eligibility criteria, resulting in 20 included studies. No studies were excluded based on quality. Data pertaining to understandings of ‘research productivity’, barriers to research productivity, interventions and outcomes of interventions were extracted. The most often used measures were the frequency or staff-output ratio of funding, publications and presentations, while the less commonly used were the number of conference abstracts submitted/accepted and awards. Subjective measures were less commonly used. Barriers to research productivity fell into three broad categories: resource constraints, lack of priority for research and barriers related to the attitudes, knowledge and skills of School of Nursing academics. Interventions covered nine broad areas. Half of the interventions were multi-stranded, including a wide range of components to increase research productivity while the other half comprised one component only, such as writing groups and mentoring. All interventions had a positive impact on research productivity, however, heterogeneity in the measurement of impact, the duration of interventions, sources of comparative data and research design made comparison of interventions challenging. ConclusionsThe review identified a need for future research to explore the barriers among under-represented groups of academics in Schools of Nursing across a broader geographical area; and what works for various sub-groups of academics. It also identified a need for a valid, standardised tool to assess the effectiveness of interventions to increase research productivity of academics in Schools of Nursing.

Predictors of self-reported research engagement and academic-career interest amongst medical students in the United Kingdom: a national cross-sectional survey.

We hypothesised that the gender/ethnic disparities and reductions in the UK academic-clinician workforce stem from research experience in medical school. This study investigated the factors influencing research engagement and academic-career interests among UK medical students. Using a 42-item online questionnaire, a national multicentre cross-sectional survey of UK medical students was conducted over 9 weeks in the 2020/21 academic year. Multiple binary logistic and zero-inflated negative binomial regressions were used to evaluate associations between the predictor variables and research engagement (yes/no), number of research projects conducted, and academic-career interest (yes/no). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In total, 1573 students participated from 36 medical schools. No ethnic/gender differences in research engagement were observed. However, compared to men, women had a 31% decrease in the odds of being interested in an academic-clinician career [odds ratio (OR): 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52, 0.92]. Positive predictors of interest in academia were being a PubMed-indexed author (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.38, 3.47) and having at least one national/international presentation (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.88). Career progression was the primary motivating factor (67.1%) for pursuing research, whereas limited awareness of opportunities (68.0%) and time constraints (67.5%) were the most common barriers. There were no ethnic differences in research engagement or academic-career intent. Although there were no gender differences in research engagement, female students were less likely to be interested in an academic career. This could be tackled by providing targeted opportunities to increase research productivity and self-efficacy in medical schools. Key messages: What is already known on this topic: There has been a decline in the number of academic clinicians, with a disproportionate gender and ethnic representation in the academic workforce. Engaging medical students in research activities during their medical training could mitigate the declining number of academic clinicians. Differential attainment occurs in medical school and persists after graduation. What this study adds: Although there were no gender/ethnic differences in research engagement amongst UK medical students, our study suggests that female students were less likely to be interested in pursuing an academic career. Time constraints, a lack of awareness of opportunities, and difficulty in finding research supervisors/mentors were the most common barriers to research engagement, whereas PubMed-indexed authorship was the strongest positive predictor of interest in an academic career. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: Medical schools should facilitate the selection of good-quality research mentors that would provide adequate support to ensure that their students' works are published in peer-reviewed journals. Medical schools should employ local research officers to increase students' awareness of research opportunities.

Understanding Gender Differences in Research Productivity of Canadian Otolaryngologists-A Comprehensive National Audit.

Objective: To understand the factors contributing to gender disparities in the research productivity of Canadian academic otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons. Methods: Publicly available sources including departmental websites, SCOPUS, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada were accessed between February and April 2022 to analyze gender differences in the academic productivity of otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons across Canada. Gender differences in research productivity metrics, including h-index, i10-index, publication number, and number of first and senior authorships were assessed. Demographic data, including gender, institution, years in practice, and leadership roles were assessed for correlation with increased research productivity. Subgroup analyses were used to evaluate gender differences in productivity metrics, and univariable and multivariable regression analyses were used to evaluate predictors of research productivity. Results: Data were collected for 316 academic otolaryngologists (252 men, 64 women, P < .001). Men had significantly more years of publishing [mean (standard deviation, SD), 15.64 (9.45) vs 12.44 (8.28), P = .014], higher h-indices [12.22 (11.47) vs 7.33 (5.36), P < .001], i10-indices [22.61 (37.88) vs 8.17 (9.14), P > .001], publication numbers [46.63 (65.18) vs 19.59 (23.40), P < .001], and first [8.18 (9.95) vs 4.89 (6.18), P = .001] and senior authorships [12.98 (22.72) vs 3.83 (6.89), P < .001]. Gender differences were most pronounced in head and neck oncology, pediatrics, and the late career stage. Gender disparities in productivity were absent in the early career stage. Multivariate analysis identified only the number publications and number of senior author publications as being significantly influenced by gender. Conclusion: Canadian female otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons appear to have equivalent research productivity to their male counterparts in the early career stage. This mirrors the recent findings in the United States, and demonstrates progress compared to earlier studies that found women to have lower research productivity in the early career stage.

A Path Model of the Research Productivity and Instructional Performance of Secondary School Master Teachers in Caraga Region, Philippines

This study aimed to describe the implementation of Basic Education Research Fund (BERF), psychosocial variables to research, research productivity, and instructional performance of the master teachers in the Cabadbaran, Butuan, and Surigao city divisions. This research used a descriptive correlational integrating a Structural Equation Model (SEM) technique to understand the interrelationship among the variables. The respondents of the study were the master teachers from Cabadbaran City, Surigao City, and Butuan City Division. Based on the objectives of the study, results of the study revealed that: (i) Master teacher-respondents in the three divisions have good behavior toward research but research support and self-efficacy are areas that need further improvements; (ii) The implementation of BERF in terms of research outputs is better among the master-teacher respondents of Cabadbaran than in Butuan and Surigao City considering the number of respondents in each division; (iii) Master teacher-respondents performed their instructional functions beyond expectations; (iv) Research publications and productions are areas in that master teacher- respondents need reinforcements; (v) Research impact in terms of citation from Google Scholar needs further improvements among the master teacher-respondents, and (vi) The data support a best-fit model based on the fit indices that are within the acceptable range. Psychosocial and BERF implementation are the prime factors that positively increase research productivity.

Predictors of self-reported research productivity amongst medical students in the United Kingdom: a national cross-sectional survey

BackgroundThe number of academic clinicians in the UK is declining and there are demographic inequalities in the clinical-academic workforce. Increased research productivity by medical students is believed to reduce future attrition in the clinical-academic workforce. Thus, this study investigated the association between student demographics and research productivity amongst UK medical students.MethodsThis is a national multicentre cross-sectional study of UK medical students in the 2020/21 academic year. We appointed one student representative per medical school, and they disseminated a 42-item online questionnaire over nine weeks, through departmental emails and social media advertisements. The outcome measures were: (i) publications (yes/no) (ii) number of publications (iii) number of first-authored publications (iv) abstract presentation (yes/no). We utilised multiple logistic and zero-inflated Poisson regression analyses to test for associations between the outcome measures and predictor variables at a 5% significance level.ResultsThere are 41 medical schools in the UK. We received 1573 responses from 36 UK medical schools. We failed to recruit student representatives from three newly formed medical schools, whilst two medical schools prohibited us from sending the survey to their students. Women had lower odds of having a publication (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33–0.85) and on average had fewer first-author publications than men (IRR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37–0.89). Compared to white students, mixed-ethnicity students had greater odds of having a publication (OR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.67–5.59), an abstract presentation (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.37–3.26), and on average had a greater number of publications (IRR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.02–3.43). On average, students who attended independent UK secondary schools had a higher rate of first-author publications compared to those that attended state secondary schools (IRR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.23–3.15).ConclusionOur data suggest that there are gender, ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in research productivity among UK medical students. To tackle this, and potentially improve diversity in clinical academia, we recommend that medical schools should facilitate targeted high quality research mentorship, funding and training, especially for under-represented-in-medicine students.

Space physics guide to STRIDE: Strategies and tactics for recruiting to improve diversity and excellence

The space physics research community is not diverse. This is especially true at the senior experience levels, but is even true for our student populations, which are also not matching the demographics of the general public. Striving towards a demographic shift to match the general population promotes equity and inclusion. In addition, diversity increases research productivity. Unfortunately, bias exists, including within the space physics research community, and this negatively impacts hiring practices and perpetuates the demographic mismatch. Yet there are many strategies and tactics that can be adopted to counter this problem. A number of these methods are presented and discussed, specifically those regarding the search process for hiring new research group members. The key methods for achieving an equitable search process are as follows: develop a holistic rubric early, even before the job ad is posted; slow down the downselect from the full applicant pool to the short list of finalists so that the rubric can be carefully applied to each candidate; make the interview process as equitable as possible by considering the ways in which it could be biased; and conduct a fair decision-making process that focuses on the job-relevant criteria and avoids global rankings until the final vote.

Establishing a cerebral palsy registry in Kuwait: An exploratory study

BackgroundCerebral palsy (CP), the most common motor disability in childhood, comprises a group of permanent non-progressive disorders affecting the antenatal, neonatal, or early postnatal development of areas in the brain responsible for posture and movement. Registries for children with CP, or surveillance programs, have been a source of consistently increasing research productivity; 38 related articles were published in 2013. In Kuwait, a CP registry would provide baseline information on children with CP and their parents. The registry could include demographic information obtained through parental interviews, or review of the mothers' and the children's medical charts. ObjectiveThis study was aimed at exploring the establishment of a pediatric CP registry in Kuwait. MethodsIn this exploratory study, caregivers of children with CP were recruited from rehabilitation clinics around Kuwait. The inclusion criteria were 1) boys or girls with a documented diagnosis of CP made between 6 months and 18 years of age, 2) caregivers with permanent residency in Kuwait, and 4) caregivers speaking Arabic and/or English fluently. The variables collected comprised registry and feasibility variables. Registry-associated variables comprised demographic and medical information about the children, and caregivers' willingness to be contacted for a follow-up or participation in other research projects. Feasibility variables were the percentage of information gathered, and the willingness of caregivers to participate in, and of therapists to recruit for, the registry. ResultsFifty-three caregivers of children with CP participated in this study. The mean age of the recruited children with CP was 5 years and 5 months (SD = 3 y 4 m, range = 11 m to 16 y 8 m/female n = 25). GMFCS level V was reported by half of the sample (n = 29/55.77%). Of the 112 caregivers screened, fewer than half (n = 53 of 112/47.32%) participated in the study. Most caregivers (n = 48/90.56%) used the Arabic version of the form. ConclusionThe establishment of a pediatric CP registry in Kuwait is feasible, on the basis of our data.

Model for enhancing the research conducted by the university medical staff: Participatory action research

This study employed mixed methods with a participatory action research approach to explore factors currently undermining the conduction of research and to develop strategies to boost research productivity. A questionnaire was distributed to 64 staff members of the Department of Anesthesiology at a university-based hospital. Thirty-nine staff members (60.9%) gave informed consent and responses. Staff views were also collected through focus group discussions. The staff reported that limited research methodology skills, time management, and complex managerial processes were the limitations. Age, attitudes, and performance expectancy were significantly correlated with research productivity. A regression analysis demonstrated that age and performance expectancy significantly influenced research productivity. A Business Model Canvas (BMC) was implemented to gain insight into the goal of enhancing the conduct of research. Business Model Innovation (BMI) established a strategy to improve research productivity. The concept, comprising personal reinforcement (P), aiding systems (A), and a lifting-up of the value of research (L), the PAL concept, was considered key to enhancing the conduct of research, with the BMC providing details and integrating with the BMI. To upgrade the research performance, the involvement of management is imperative, and future action will involve the implementation of a BMI model to increase research productivity.

IsoAnalytics: a single-cell proteomics web server.

Single-cell proteomics provide unprecedented resolution to examine biological processes. Customized data analysis and facile data visualization are crucial for scientific discovery. Further, user-friendly data analysis and visualization software that is easily accessible for the general scientific community is essential. We have created a web server, IsoAnalytics, that gives users without computational or bioinformatics background the ability to directly analyze and interactively visualize data obtained from the Isoplexis single cell technology platform. We envision this open-sourced web server will increase research productivity and serve as a free, competitive alternative for single-cell proteomics research. IsoAnalytics is free and available at: https://cdc.biohpc.swmed.edu/isoplexis/ and is implemented in Python, with all major browsers supported. Code for IsoAnalytics is free and available at: https://github.com/zhanxw/Isoplexis_Data_Analysis. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.

The role of universities in realizing sustainability: Analysis of UI GreenMetric contributions and publications related to sustainability

This paper discusses how UI GreenMetric and sustainability publications interact to strengthen universities’ contributions to global sustainability. It examines data from six universities, including Wageningen University &amp; Research (Netherlands), Universitas Indonesia (Indonesia), Universitas Diponegoro (Indonesia), University of Malaya (Malaysia), Universitas Airlangga (Indonesia), and Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Indonesia), linking UI GreenMetric rankings with sustainability-related publications. Results in the 2022 UI GreenMetric Rankings show that Wageningen University &amp; Research secured the top position, with an average of 2395 sustainability-related publications in the last three years and 3221 publications from Elsevier. Universitas Indonesia has 4725 total publications from Elsevier and 1525 publications related to sustainability from UI GreenMetric data. Other universities, such as Universitas Diponegoro, University of Malaya, Universitas Airlangga, and Universitas Negeri Surabaya, also showcased their commitment to sustainability through their publication records. This study concludes that higher-ranked universities tend to produce more sustainability-focused publications, indicating a positive relationship between sustainability commitment and research impact. Institutions with elevated UI GreenMetric rankings consistently prioritize sustainability, increasing research productivity in this field.

Complex and Varied: Factors Related to the Research Productivity of Academic Librarians in the United States

Academic librarians face multiple barriers in conducting the research that is expected in their work, yet they still manage to successfully complete it. This study aimed to identify the factors that contribute to their success. Through an online survey sent via email to a random sample of academic librarians in the United States, we gathered and analyzed quantitative data about education and experience, demographics, success factor statements, and research productivity to determine which factors are related to increased research output. We found that three categories of factors—Individual Attributes, Peers and Community, and Institutional Structures and Supports—contribute positively to overall research output. We identified several elements that academic librarians may want to pursue to increase research productivity, with Peers and Community identified as a category for exploration. Overall, we found that academic librarians are highly motivated to conduct research, yet the factors leading to their success are complex and varied.

Preterm Birth Research in Southeast Asia and its Association with Socioeconomic Determinants and Burden of Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis.

The aim of this study was to assess research productivity on preterm birth (PTB) in Southeast Asian (SEA) countries and its correlation with socioeconomic characteristics and burden of disease. A systematic review of preterm birth publications by SEA authors indexed in Scopus, PubMed, ClinicalTrials. gov, and Cochrane was done. Case reports, cohorts, control trials, reviews and cost analysis studies done by SEA researches involving pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and complications of preterm birth was included in the study while published letters to editors were excluded. The correlation of bibliometric indices, namely Scopus citations, and PlumX metrics indices (citations, usage, captures, mentions, and social media), with socioeconomic status and burden of preterm birth in SEA countries were analyzed by computing for the correlation coefficient (r) and p-value at an alpha of 0.05. Thailand had the highest number of publications and the highest count across all bibliometric indices among all countries in SEA. The percent gross domestic product (GDP) per capita allotted for research and development (R & D) had direct correlation with publications and captures while crude birth rates had indirect correlation with publications, citations, and captures. Neonatal mortality had indirect correlation with publications and captures. Support for research and development is essential to increase research productivity in SEA, which in turn may help in finding solutions to decrease the rate of preterm birth in the region.

The role of collaboration and mentorship in the publication of surgical resident research.

Research is an integral part of surgical training and a mandated competency by national accreditation bodies. Most residents engage in research, but the conversion of this research into peer-reviewed publications is unknown. The objectives of this study were to assess the conversion rate of resident research into published manuscripts and determine what variables predict publication. Through a retrospective design, 99 resident research abstracts were identified from the Surgery Research Day at the University of Saskatchewan 2008-2018. Publication status was verified using Google Scholar and PubMed. Variables associated with resident-specific, mentor-specific, and project-specific variables were assessed for their role in predicting publication. Fifty-two (53%) of the 99 abstracts were published in a peer-reviewed journal, and 43 (43%) were presented at a national conference. Logistic regression analysis revealed multidisciplinary research (OR 4.46, CI 1.8-11.4, p = 0.002), projects involving multiple resident researchers (OR 2.56, CI 1.02-6.43, p = 0.045), and faculty supervisor having > 25 publications (OR 2.46, CI 1.03-5.88, p = 0.042) as significant predictors of publication. Our study identifies three variables related to collaboration and mentorship that can serve as potential starting points to increase research productivity amongst medical trainees.

Assessment of the Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL): Impact on the Research Productivity and Careers of Academic Librarians

Objective – This article reports the survey findings from a mixed-methods assessment of the six-year Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL). The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provided funding for IRDL from 2014-2019; during this time, 124 academic and research librarians participated in a year-long continuing education program for novice researchers. This article assesses the effectiveness of IRDL in meeting short-term and long-term goals related to research productivity, job performance, and identity as a researcher. Beyond the assessment of IRDL itself, the study addresses the implications of IRDL for creating effective research continuing education programs and institutional support for librarian research. Methods – In the first part of a two-phase study, we surveyed all 124 librarians who completed the in-person summer research workshop and year-long online follow-up program. The lead researcher invited those who completed the survey to participate in the study's second phase, a focus group or an in-depth interview. Results – Eighty-nine participants responded to the survey, for a 72% response rate. The results show that IRDL was successful in helping a majority of participants complete their IRDL project and conduct new research. Participants reported work-related benefits of participating in the program, including tenure, rank promotion, merit-based salary increases, and new employment opportunities. IRDL contributed to developing personal learning networks, research collaborations, and a sense of identity as a researcher. IRDL increased the research confidence of the participants by providing them with research methods instruction, coupled with an opportunity to practice what they have learned during a year-long support program. Conclusion – This assessment study confirms that IRDL is an effective program for novice librarian-researchers who want to improve their research skills, develop new research relationships among their peers, and advance in their careers. It also provides insight into the conditions for a successful continuing education and research support program. Many librarians experience anxiety about conducting and disseminating their research; IRDL demonstrates the importance of placing novice researchers in a supportive environment, where research is viewed as a positive experience that is directly related to professional success. These experiences lead to increased confidence and identity as a researcher, which contributes to increased research productivity.

Participant perspectives on a department of surgery faculty mentoring program

BackgroundMentorship in academic medicine serves to promote career advancement and job satisfaction. This study was to evaluate the initial results of a faculty mentorship program in an academic Department of Surgery. MethodsA faculty mentorship program was initiated in July 2015 with 63 participants. Junior faculty mentees (n = 35) were assigned senior faculty mentors (n = 28). After three years, an electronic survey was administered and the results analyzed. ResultsResponse rate was 67% (n = 42). 34 (81%) respondents had met with their mentor/mentee at least once. Topics discussed included: research (76%), leadership (52%), work-life balance (45%), and promotion (5%). Mentees endorsed achieving promotion (n = 2), increasing research productivity (n = 2), and obtaining national committee positions (n = 2). 61% of mentors and 53% of mentees felt they benefitted personally from the program. Actionable improvements to the mentorship program were identified including more thoughtful pairing of mentors and mentees with similar research interests. ConclusionsParticipants felt the mentorship program was beneficial. Further investigation regarding the optimization of the mentor-mentee pairing is warranted to maximize the benefits from structured mentorship in academic surgery.