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

Abstract

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.