Importance of First and Second Authorship in Assessing Citation-Based Scholarly Activity of US Radiation Oncology Residents and Subsequent Choice of Academic Versus Private Practice Career

Composition of the Current Academic Radiation Oncology Workforce in Comprehensive Cancer Centers

PURPOSE

The landscape of the profession of academic radiation oncology is constantly changing. We sought to determine the demographic makeup of the current academic radiation oncology workforce.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Internet web site searches of the 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) were conducted in September 2019. The Scopus database was subsequently searched in December 2019 to ascertain the h-index for each radiation oncologist. Geographic location was economically stratified (New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Washington DC) as previously reported. Race and binary sex were attributed by authors using publicly available information. Univariate analysis involved the chi-square test; a multivariable model considered several factors including rank and sex.

RESULTS

Of 993 radiation oncologists at CCCs, 53.6% are junior faculty, 24.8% associate professors, and 21.7% full professors. The average radiation oncologist at a CCC has been a physician for 19.7 (standard deviation = 11.3) years; 4.7% (47/993) are under-represented minorities. 24.6% of men and 15.5% of women were full professors, a statistically significant difference (P = .001). Of the 51 department chairs, 11.8% are women and 5.6% are under-represented minorities. There are fewer female than male program directors in the most economically stratified locations (P = .02). The mean h-index for all faculty is 17.6 (standard deviation = 16.9), and significantly differs between junior faculty (8.21), associate professors (18.46), and full professors (40.05; P < .0001). It also differs between men (19.35) and women (14.11). On multivariable analysis, sex, academic rank, and a secondary advanced degree were independently significant correlates of h-index.

CONCLUSION

Among academic radiation oncologists at CCCs, under 5% are under-represented minorities, men are significantly over-represented among senior faculty, and women have significantly lower h-indices than men.

Global Research on Coronaviruses: Metadata-Based Analysis for Public Health Policies

BACKGROUND

Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper suggests a data science strategy for analyzing global research on coronaviruses. The application of reproducible research principles founded on text-as-data information, open science, the dissemination of scientific data, and easy access to scientific production may aid public health in the fight against the virus.

OBJECTIVE

The primary goal of this paper was to use global research on coronaviruses to identify critical elements that can help inform public health policy decisions. We present a data science framework to assist policy makers in implementing cutting-edge data science techniques for the purpose of developing evidence-based public health policies.

METHODS

We used the EpiBibR (epidemiology-based bibliography for R) package to gain access to coronavirus research documents worldwide (N=121,231) and their associated metadata. To analyze these data, we first employed a theoretical framework to group the findings into three categories: conceptual, intellectual, and social. Second, we mapped the results of our analysis in these three dimensions using machine learning techniques (ie, natural language processing) and social network analysis.

RESULTS

Our findings, firstly, were methodological in nature. They demonstrated the potential for the proposed data science framework to be applied to public health policies. Additionally, our findings indicated that the United States and China were the primary contributors to global coronavirus research during the study period. They also demonstrated that India and Europe were significant contributors, albeit in a secondary position. University collaborations in this domain were strong between the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, confirming the country-level findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings argue for a data-driven approach to public health policy, particularly when efficient and relevant research is required. Text mining techniques can assist policy makers in calculating evidence-based indices and informing their decision-making process regarding specific actions necessary for effective health responses.

Motivations, Well-Being, and Career Aspirations of Radiation Oncology Resident Physicians in Canada

Prior Pan-Canadian surveys of Radiation Oncology (RO) residents reveal a decrease in Canadian RO employment opportunities. Canadian RO resident levels increased from 130 in 2003, peaked at 209 in 2009, then decreased to 130 in 2017. Recognizing that RO has entered another period of transition, we re-examined resident motivations and perspectives on the job market and explored well-being and career aspirations among a contemporary cohort of Canadian RO residents. An online survey was distributed to residents at all Canadian RO training programs. Surveys consisted of 75 open-ended, Likert-scale, matrix-style, and multiple-choice questions. Student's t test compared subgroups, with statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. Out of 128 eligible residents, 84 completed the survey (66% response rate) with representative sampling from each training year. Demographics reveal 53% male, and 85% Canadian registry-funded. Top training-related stressors were exam performance, job prospects, and physical/psychological demands of residency. Most intend to pursue fellowship post-residency (80%) and practice in Canada (88%). Few believe they can obtain staff positions treating preferred tumor sites (38%) or at preferred geographic locations (28%). Residents view job market being less competitive than 5 years ago (40%) and predict it will be less competitive in 5 years (60%). Canadian RO residents feel adequately trained, and most pursue post-residency fellowships. Current perceptions of the Canadian job market remain guarded, but appear more optimistic about the future. This update provides insights into current RO training and identifies areas that could be addressed by incoming competency-based medical education models for RO.

Evaluation of the productivity of hospital-based researchers: comparative study between the h-index and the h(fa)-index

The h-index is often used to evaluate researchers and to measure their respective contributions to the scientific community. However, it does not take into account the relative contribution of each author to the articles. We aimed to assess the added value of the h(fa)-index, an index introducing a weighting factor for the first author. This cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2020 in Switzerland. We selected all hospital-based senior physicians practicing internal medicine or family medicine in the six university hospitals. Using Web of Science, we retrieved the h-index and computed the h(fa)-index of all physicians with a non-zero h-index. We used Spearman coefficients to examine the correlation between the two indices and Cohen’s kappa to determine the inter-rater agreement. 244 physicians were included in the study (men: 63%). They had a median h-index of 3 (IQR 11) and a median h(fa) index of 4.5 (IQR 14). The correlation between the two indices was very high (rho 0.98, p-value < 0.001). However, the inter-rater agreement was only moderate (Kappa 0.59 [95% CI 0.56–0.64]). The h(fa)-index was able to correct the categorization of the researchers in about 1/3 of the cases (agreement 63.4%). Although it is very challenging to evaluate researchers with a unique indicator, these data suggest that the h(fa)-index could be a better evaluation tool of researchers’ productivity.

Evolution of the prevalence of pre-residency peer-reviewed publications among incoming junior residents

Pre-residency peer-reviewed publications (PRP) have been associated with subsequent resident choice of academic versus private practice career. The evolution of PRP prevalence among radiation oncology resident classes has yet to be examined. A list of radiation oncology residents from the graduating classes of 2016 and 2022 were obtained, and PRP was compiled as the number of publications a resident had listed in PubMed as of the end of the calendar year of residency application. Statistical analysis was conducted using Fisher's exact test. Analysis of 163 residents from the 2016 class compared with 195 from the 2022 class revealed that the proportion of residents with zero PRP decreased from 46.6% to 23.6% between the 2016 to 2022 classes (p<0.0001), while that of residents with one PRP increased from 17.8% to 19.0% (p>0.05) and with at least two PRP increased from 35.6% to 57.4% (p<0.0001). Residents with a PhD were more likely to have at least two PRP in each class (p<0.0001). As with the class of 2016, there remained no significant difference in PRP by gender for the class of 2022. Over the past six years, PRP has become more prevalent among incoming radiation oncology residents. Residents in the class of 2016 were 180% less likely than the class of 2022 to have at least one PRP, and 60% less likely to have at least two PRP. These findings are indicative of the increasing pressure on medical students to enter residency with a publication background.

Attitudes Towards Research During Residency Training: a Survey of Canadian Radiation Oncology Residents and Program Directors

Radiation oncologists require clinical appraisal and research methodology skills, yet it is unclear how to develop these competencies during residency. We sought to attain a deeper understanding of the barriers that limit, as well as the factors that promote, engaging in research/scholarly activity during radiation oncology residency training in Canada. Following ethics approval, online surveys were circulated to all Canadian Radiation Oncology program directors and residents. Unidentifiable demographics, prior research experience, and descriptions of current research environment and barriers to engaging in research and scholarly activities were collected. Thirty-three percent (35/105) of residents and 71% (10/14) of program directors responded. Ninety-seven percent of residents, and 90% of program directors, agreed or strongly agreed that research/scholarly activity was an important part of residency training. While 66% of residents felt that there was a lack of protected time for research/scholarly activity, only 20% of program directors agreed this was a barrier (p = 0.011). While 94% of residents thought mentorship was important to completing high-quality research/scholarly activity, only 48% of respondents had a mentor. The highest barriers to completing research/scholarly activity projects were lack of protected time (for both residents and faculty), high resident clinical workload, and lack of experience in research skills. Canadian Radiation Oncology residents expressed strong enthusiasm to participate in research/scholarly activity, yet lack of protected time and competing demands were identified as major barriers. We suggest programs offer more protected time for research/scholarly activity, provide optional research methodology training, and support meaningful mentorship relationships.

Authorship diversity among systematic reviews in eyes and vision

IMPORTANCE

The inclusion of authors from diverse backgrounds and with different lived experiences is critical to ensuring the questions addressed in systematic reviews (SRs), as well as the subsequent conclusions and recommendations made, are representative of the global community.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the gender and geographic diversity of authors among all Cochrane SRs in eyes and vision as compared with a random sample of non-Cochrane SRs of interventions in the field of eyes and vision.

DESIGN

The Cochrane Eyes and Vision US Satellite maintains a database of SRs in the field of eyes and vision. We selected all (n = 313) eyes and vision intervention SRs published in The Cochrane Library and a random sample of 313 eyes and vision intervention SRs published elsewhere for this study. We determined gender of the first and corresponding authors ("woman," "man," or "unknown") using a previously developed algorithm and their location based on institution country and the World Health Organization region.

RESULTS

From the 626 reviews included in our sample, we identified 751 unique authors who comprised 887 author positions (i.e., first and/or corresponding authors). We were able to ascertain the gender of 647/751 (86%) authors: 276 women and 371 men. Among Cochrane eyes and vision SRs, the proportions of women in first and/or corresponding author positions were consistent and approximately equal to men. Among non-Cochrane eyes and vision SRs, the representation of women was markedly lower as corresponding authors than other positions. Most authors of Cochrane eyes and vision SRs were from the UK (31%) and USA (26%), whereas most authors of non-Cochrane SRs were from China (34%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Compared with authors of non-Cochrane SRs in eyes and vision, authors of Cochrane SRs appear to have approximately equal representation of women and men among perceived important author positions and be located in European and North American countries, possibly due to the locations of the Cochrane editorial teams. Cochrane Eyes and Vision should continue to recruit authors from around the world in locations that reflect the global burden of eye disease.

The Relationship Between Preresidency Peer-Reviewed Publications and Subsequent Citation-Based Scholarly Activity of United States Radiation Oncology Residents

PURPOSE

Preresidency peer-reviewed publications (PRP) have been associated with resident choice of academic versus private practice careers in both neurosurgery and radiation oncology. The relationship between PRP and subsequent citation-based scholarly activity of radiation oncology residents has not been previously examined.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A list of 2016 radiation oncology resident graduates (163 residents from 76 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-certified programs) and their PRP were compiled. The Scopus bibliometric citation database was then searched to collect Hirsch index (h-index) data for each resident, as well as manuscripts limited to first-author only and first- or second-author only for each resident. Analyses were stratified based on the absence or presence of (at least 1) PRP for each resident.

RESULTS

The mean h-index score for all resident graduates was 4.15. Residents with at least 1 PRP had significantly higher h-index scores (5.93 vs 2.12; P < .01) than those with no PRP. PRP was also associated with significantly higher first-author only (2.84 vs 1.17; P < .01) and second-author only (3.90 vs 1.47; P < .01) scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation oncology residents with at least 1 PRP are significantly more likely than those with no PRP to have higher h-index scores, as well as higher scores when stratified by first and/or second authorship. The average radiation oncology resident graduate with at least 1 PRP has published approximately 6 manuscripts cited at least 6 times, been first or second author on nearly 4 manuscripts cited at least 4 times, and been first author on nearly 3 manuscripts cited at least 3 times. More than 30% of graduates without PRP did not publish any cited manuscripts. These results allow for potential predictive evaluation of resident productivity during the radiation oncology residency applicant process and have potential utility in predicting career choices postresidency.