부산대학교 도서관

Background: The amount of published research that has been performed by a specialist registrar (SpR) at the time of appointment to a consultant post has no set expectations. It has been suggested that research s diminishing in all specialities in the United Kingdom. Aims: To observe any publication trends in newly appointed NHS consultants over a 9 year period. In addition, we assessed whether there were differences between district general hospital (DGH) appointments versus teaching centre hospitals (TCH). Methods: All consultant appointments and location of SpR training were noted from February 1993 to April 2001 (obtained from trainees in gastroenterology). A PubMed and Embase search was performed on each individual to note the number and type of publications up to 19 months post-appointment (previously described as the median time from submission to publication). The consultant name was then matched with his/her entry in the BSG handbook and any higher degree noted (PhD, MD or MA). If no degree was documented the individual's department was contacted to ascertain whether this information had not been supplied to the BSG. It was noted whether the appointment was at a DGH or TCH. Results: During the study period there were 362 appointments: 210 were NHS consultants appointments (52 excluded: consultant transfers n = 41 and academic appointments n = 11). There was a significant year by year reduction in the number of publications. 39% of consuhants were appointed in the region where they trained. A consultant was just as likely to have a higher degree if appointed to a DGH (68%, 80/118) or TCH (72%, 66/92). Consultants appointed to TCHs had a significantly greater number of publications (mean 15.6) compared with DGH consultants (mean 10.9, Χ², p = 0.01). Conclusion: There is a year by year, significant decreasing trend in the publication rate of SpRs' at the time of their consultant appointment. This could reflect diminished research funding... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]