Facilitation of resident scholarly activity: strategy and outcome analyses using historical resident cohorts and a rank-to-match population

Abstract

Background: Facilitation of residents' scholarly activities is indispensable to the future of medical specialties. Research education initiatives and their outcomes, however, have rarely been reported.

Methods: Since academic year 2006, research education initiatives, including research lectures, research problem-based learning discussions, and an elective research rotation under a new research director's supervision, have been used. The effectiveness of the initiatives was evaluated by comparing the number of residents and faculty mentors involved in residents' research activity (Preinitiative [2003-2006] vs. Postinitiative [2007-2011]). The residents' current postgraduation practices were also compared. To minimize potential historical confounding factors, peer-reviewed publications based on work performed during residency, which were written by residents who graduated from the program in academic year 2009 to academic year 2011, were further compared with those of rank-to-match residents, who were on the residency ranking list during the same academic years, and could have been matched with the program of the authors had the residents ranked it high enough on their list.

Results: The Postinitiative group showed greater resident research involvement compared with the Preinitiative group (89.2% [58 in 65 residents] vs. 64.8% [35 in 54]; P = 0.0013) and greater faculty involvement (23.9% [161 in 673 faculty per year] vs. 9.2% [55 in 595]; P < 0.0001). Choice of academic practice did not increase (50.8% [Post] vs. 40.7% [Pre]; P = 0.36). Graduated residents (n = 38) published more often than the rank-to-match residents (n = 220) (55.3% [21 residents] vs. 13.2% [29]; P < 0.0001, odds ratio 8.1 with 95% CI of 3.9 to 17.2).

Conclusion: Research education initiatives increased residents' research involvement.

Figure 1

The trend of mean scholarly activity points (SAPs) by resident class. A vertical reference line at Class 2007 indicated the starting point of research initiatives in the program. A segmented regression analysis and subsequent parsimonious model analysis showed the trend of SAPs after the Class 2007 remained statistically significant (p = 0.002).

Figure 2

The number of anesthesiology faculty members who provided research mentorship to the residents in a given academic year increased steadily. A statistically significant increase (from 9.2% to 23.9%, p < 0.0001) was noted from the Pre-Initiatives faculty members (Academic Year 2003 – Academic Year 2006) to the Post-Initiatives faculty members (Academic Year 2007 – Academic Year 2010).