[Is there a place in France for clinical research in private institutions?]

[Survey of office space and computer availability offered to full time practitioners in departments of anaesthesia and intensive care of French university hospitals]

INTRODUCTION

Office space and computer facilities offered to medical practitioners in departments of anaesthesia (DA) belonging to university hospitals in metropolitan France in 2002 were surveyed.

METHOD

A questionnaire was mailed to the 72 heads of DA belonging to university hospitals in metropolitan France in order to assess: (1) the number of full time anaesthesiologists sharing each office; (2) whether a computer was provided to all full time anaesthetists who required one; (3) the adequacy of the offices in terms of the DA's needs; (4) the subjective appreciation of the comfort level of the DA office space when compared to other departments within the institution; (5) whether an office space with a computer was specifically reserved for fellows.

RESULTS

Sixty-two replies were received (86.1%). Among full time anaesthesiologists surveyed:only 21.8% occupied an office alone; 1.2% had no office; 36.5, 21.7, 8.2, 3.4, 3.9, 3.2% shared one office with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, more than 5 colleagues, respectively; 25.8% had a personal computer. Fifty percent of DA surveyed did not reserve a specific office for fellow's need; 75.8% of the offices surveyed were evaluated as being of inadequate comfort level; 64.5% of the offices surveyed were evaluated at a lower comfort level when compared to the office space of other departments within the institution.

CONCLUSION

A high response rate was obtained. DA were found to be insufficiently provided with offices and computer facilities in french university hospitals. Such a situation, which is both surprising and questionable in an industrialised country, warrants a debate.