Preresidency publication record and its association with publishing during paediatric residency

The scientific value of medical student research: The experience at the Arrow Program for Medical Research Education

This study presents a comparative analysis of the publications of students participating in the Arrow Research Program in comparison to those of attending physicians and researchers at the same tertiary medical center in order to assess the impact of the Arrow Research Program on the students' scientific achievements. The study encompassed 90 Arrow Research Program students who were involved in the program at the Sheba Medical Center between 2019 and 2021. As a comparison group, 2082 attending physicians and researchers affiliated with the same center during the same period of time were considered. Publications were collected from The Web of Science Database, and the publication data parameters of each group were compared to assess scientific outcomes. The Arrow Research Program students collectively published 67 articles, and the 2082 physicians and researchers in the comparison group produced 4283 papers during the study timeframe. Similarly, the average impact factor of the journals in which the Arrow Research Program papers were published was 4.16 ± 2.68, similar to the average impact factor of 4.74 ± 6.26 in the comparison group (p = 0.388). Likewise, the average quartile of the journals in which the Arrow Research Program articles were published was 1.39 ± 0.59, which is similar to the comparison group's average quartile of 1.39 ± 0.63 (p = 0.997). In conclusion, the Arrow Research Program demonstrates its effectiveness in empowering young students to execute successful research projects. This study may help develop educational programs worldwide.

Association of pre-residency publications with research productivity in residency, fellowship, and academic career choice among Canadian ophthalmologists

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess whether the research output of medical students who matched into a Canadian ophthalmology residency program influences their subsequent research productivity during residency, decision to pursue a fellowship, or engagement in academic practice.

DESIGN

Retrospective database review.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 369 trainees commencing ophthalmology residency from 2004 to 2015 at 15 residency programs.

METHODS

Each trainee's publication record was queried in Scopus before and after the date they started residency. Multiple public sources were searched to identify fellowship placement and the type of subsequent practice (i.e., academic or community). Predictors of research productivity during residency, fellowship, and practice setting were assessed using multivariable regression analyses.

RESULTS

Trainees with pre-residency publications (n = 187) demonstrated significantly higher research productivity during residency than those without pre-residency publications (n = 182), with a mean of 5.17 ± 5.97 versus 1.60 ± 2.38 publications on any topic (p < 0.001). Pre-residency research output was a predictor of research productivity during residency (relative risk = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.09-1.27; p < 0.001), pursuing fellowship (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.74-4.83), and an academic career (odds ratio = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.07-3.2).

CONCLUSION

Pre-residency research output is a significant predictor of research productivity during residency and subsequent career choices, suggesting that pre-residency publishing reflects a propensity toward an academic trajectory. Residency publication count moderates this association, underscoring the role of the residency program environment in fostering research productivity. Addressing barriers such as mentorship, funding, and curriculum may be key to incentivizing trainees to pursue academic medicine.

Association Between Preresidency Peer-reviewed Publications and Future Academic Productivity or Career Choice Among Ophthalmology Residency Applicants

Importance

Ophthalmology-residency selection committees require robust metrics to review applicants. Participation in research activities is a core component of the application process for its perceived association with future academic productivity.

Objective

To evaluate the correlation between the number of preresidency peer-reviewed publications (PPPs) and subsequent peer-reviewed publications or career choices of ophthalmology residency graduates.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this cross-sectional study, names of ophthalmology residency graduates were obtained. PubMed-indexed publication records were generated and publications were categorized as preresidency, intraresidency, and postresidency. First author and journal publications with an impact factor (IF) score of 3 or more were recorded. Current academic and community-based career statuses were designated. Names were obtained from cohort and alumni lists on residency program websites or by emailing program directors. Participants included US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited ophthalmology residency graduates from 2013 to 2016.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome measure was association of PPPs with later publications, first authorship, and journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more. The secondary outcome measure was difference in characteristics associated with academic vs community-based ophthalmologist.

Results

A total of 964 ophthalmologists (52% of graduates) were studied and most (85.5%) had PubMed-indexed publications. First authorship (ρ = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.67-0.74; P < .001) had a strong positive correlation with intraresidency publications, while journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more (ρ = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.51-0.60; P < .001) and PPPs (ρ = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.32-0.43; P < .001) had moderate and weak positive correlations, respectively. For postresidency publications, journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more (ρ = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.84-0.87; P < .001) had the strongest positive correlation followed by first authorship (ρ = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.74-0.79; P < .001) and PPPs (ρ = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.20-0.31; P < .001). Preresidency (t = 3.3; P = .001), intraresidency (t = 4.1; P < .001), postresidency (t = 7.5; P < .001), first author (t = 6.6; P < .001), and journal publications with an IF score of 3 or more (t = 5.9; P < .001) were greater for academic ophthalmologists compared with community-based ophthalmologists.

Conclusions and Relevance

Preresidency publication history is at least weakly correlated with future publications or work in an academic setting among ophthalmologists. Multiple factors associated with academic productivity were evaluated; however, adjustment for multiple analyses was not done and further testing is required to prove whether these factors are predictive.

Factors Predictive of Publication Among Medical Students Participating in School-Sponsored Research Programs

Introduction: Publishing research is an important component of medical students’ career development and becoming a more competitive residency applicant. Many medical schools offer structured programs to enable students to participate in research during their preclinical and clinical years, but the majority of student-mentor partnerships do not culminate in publication across a variety of institutions and medical specialties. The primary objective of this study is to determine if any factors associated with mentee-mentor partnerships are predictive of publication from two school-sponsored research programs at a single US medical school.

Methods: The PubMed-indexed publications of all student-mentor pairings from a summer internship (after year 1 of medical school) or research elective (during year 4 of medical school) at a single institution from 2008 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Student/mentor demographic information was associated with the probability of publication.

Results: A total of 124 students participated in the summer internship with 32 (26%) achieving publication. The publication was significantly more likely for students that were from highly ranked undergraduate institutions (p = 0.04; likelihood ratio (LR) = 5.788), were future Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) members (p = 0.03; LR = 4.597), or worked with a mentor focused on clinical rather than basic science research (p = 0.02; LR = 5.662). Forty-four students participated in the fourth-year elective with 11 (25%) achieving publication. The publication was more likely if the student worked with a mentor without a Doctor of Medicine (MD)/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree (p = 0.001; LR = 7.051), with a PhD degree (p = 0.002; LR = 7.820), or a mentor with prior publication(s) with prior mentee(s) (p = 0.03; LR = 5.368).

Conclusion: Only one-quarter of mentor-mentee research pairings resulted in publication, with student-related factors more predictive for publication from the internship and mentor-related factors more predictive of publication from the elective. Approaches to promote successful completion of medical student research projects should be considered to yield the greatest value from students’ work and strengthen the development of future physician-scientists.

Pre-residency publication and its association with paediatric residency match outcome-a retrospective analysis of a national database

INTRODUCTION

Scholarly activity is considered valuable in the resident selection process by candidates and program directors alike, despite existing literature suggesting applicants with scholarly work do not perform better in the match. These studies, however, are limited in that they have only measured whether candidates have successfully matched or not. To try and reconcile the existing disconnect in the value of pre-residency scholarly activity, we sought to deepen the understanding by investigating whether pre-residency publication is associated with a higher rank-order list match achievement.

METHODS

Anonymized data were collected from the Canadian Residency Matching Service for individuals matched to paediatric programs from 2007-2012. The primary analysis was to identify whether documentation of ≥1 pre-residency publication was associated with achieving a first-choice match. Secondary analyses included evaluating for an association between multiple pre-residency publications, academic presentations or a graduate degree and match outcome.

RESULTS

Of a total of 843 matched individuals, 406 (48.2%) listed ≥1 pre-residency publication and 494 (58.6%) matched to their first-choice program. The possession of ≥1 pre-residency publications was not associated with matching to a candidate's first-choice program (odds ratio = 0.94 [95% confidence interval = 0.71-1.24], p = 0.66). Similarly, listing ≥2 publications, ≥3 publications, a graduate degree, or an academic presentation was not associated with achieving a first-choice match.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide increased support for the notion that in aggregate, candidate scholarly activity does not influence match outcome. Accordingly, it is recommended that medical student research activities are fostered with the goal to improve their skills as scientists, and not simply to achieve a better residency match outcome.

Does medical school research productivity predict a resident's research productivity during residency?

BACKGROUND

Research productivity is an important component of the CanMEDS Scholar role and is an accreditation requirement of Canadian Otolaryngology training programs. Our objective was to determine if an association exists between publication rates before and during Otolaryngology residency.

METHODS

We obtained the names for all certified Canadian Otolaryngologists who graduated between 1998 and 2013 inclusive, and conducted a Medline search for all of their publications. Otolaryngologists were subgrouped based on year of residency graduation and the number of articles published pre-residency and during residency (0 or ≥1). Chi-squared analyses were used to evaluate whether publications pre-residency and year of graduation were associated with publications during residency.

RESULTS

We obtained data for 312 Canadian Otolaryngologists. Of those 312 graduates, 46 (14.7%) had no identifiable publications on PubMed and were excluded from the final data analysis. Otolaryngology residents had a mean 0.65 (95% CI 0.50-0.80) publications before residency and 3.35 (95% CI 2.90-3.80) publications during residency. Between 1998 and 2013, mean publication rates before and during residency both increased significantly (R ² = 0.594 and R ² = 0.759, respectively), whereas publication rates after residency graduation has stagnated (R ² = 0.023). The odds of publishing during residency was 5.85 times higher (95% CI 2.69-12.71) if a resident published prior to residency (p < 0.0001). The Spearman correlation coefficient between publications before and during residency is 0.472 (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Residents who publish at least one paper before residency are nearly six times as likely to publish during residency than those who did not publish before residency. These findings may help guide Otolaryngology program selection committees in ranking the best CaRMS candidates.

Preresidency Publication Number Does Not Predict Academic Career Placement in Neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE

It is unclear if preresidency and/or residency research work impacts academic neurosurgery placement post residency. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact that preresidency and residency research publication has on attaining academic faculty positions.

METHODS

Alumni information was collected from 65 of the 108 (60%) neurosurgery residency websites. Graduates from these programs between 2005 and 2015 (n = 949) were analyzed to determine factors associated with an academic career. Information on publications, citations, and H-index were obtained from Web of Science. Current position was designated as academic if the physician had a teaching position at a university hospital and private if the physician was not affiliated with a university hospital. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with academic faculty positions post residency.

RESULTS

Of the 949 physicians included in the analysis, 339 (36%) were in academic positions, 518 (55%) in private practice, and 92 (10%) were still in training. More than a fifth (212, or 22%) of physicians performed a research fellowship (8.2%) or attained a Ph.D. (14.1%) during medical school. Among those who had completed training, an academic career was associated with having 2 or more publications during residency (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval, CI]: 3.87 [1.59-9.45]; P < 0.003), H-index ≥ 2 during residency (OR [95% CI]: 2.32 [1.40-1.69]; P < 0.0001) and having devoted research time before residency (OR [95% CI]: 1.56 [1.10-2.22]; P < 0.012). Notably, publications before residency were not an independent indicator of academic placement.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may help guide residency programs to identify and/or cultivate neurosurgeons to become academic neurosurgeons.