Dissemination of the work of public health medicine trainees in peer-reviewed publications: an unfulfilled potential

Abstract

Objective: To assess the extent to which work undertaken during training in public health medicine was formally disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.

Setting: An English Health Region.

Methods: A postal questionnaire survey of former and current senior trainees.

Results: The response rate was 75% (38/51). Thirty per cent (11/37) had no publications arising from any work undertaken during training and specifically 49% (18/37) had no publications arising from submissions made for the Part II examination for Membership of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine. Major perceived barriers to publication were: lack of priority accorded to publication by the training department; lack of time and lack of a supervisor or mentor to facilitate preparation of material.

Conclusions: Overcoming these perceived barriers will require action at trainee, trainer and organisational level. Skills training in writing could be included in academic courses and publication could be identified as a training goal for appropriate pieces of work. Health authorities could be more active in encouraging publication of work undertaken by trainees on their behalf.