Determinants of research engagement in academic obstetrics and gynaecology
Fernandez et al. BMC Medical Education
Determinants of research engagement in academic obstetrics and gynaecology
Ariadna Fernandez 0
Leslie Sadownik 2
Sarka Lisonkova 1
Geoffrey Cundiff 4
K. S. Joseph 1 3
0 Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia , Room C427- 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1 , Canada
1 Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada
2 Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Development & Educational Support, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada
3 School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada
4 Division of Gynaecologic Specialties, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada
Background: To identify the determinants of research engagement among faculty in an academic department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Methods: All members of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia were mailed an online version of the Edmonton Research Orientation Survey (EROS) in 2011 and in 2014. High scores on overall research engagement and on each of the 4 subscales, namely, value of research, value of innovation, research involvement and research utilization/evidence-based practice were quantified. Analyses were carried out on both surveys combined and on the 2014 survey separately. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of high levels of research engagement. Results: The overall response rate was 37 % (130 responses; 54 respondents in 2011 and 76 respondents in 2014). The average EROS score was 140 (range 54 to 184) and 35 % of respondents had a score ≥150. Significant determinants of positive research engagement based on the overall EROS scale included being paid for research work (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 22.1, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 2.47-197.7) and carrying out research during unpaid hours (AOR 6.41, 95 % CI 1.97-20.9). Age <50 years (AOR 11.0, 95 % CI 1.35-89.9) and clinical experience <20 years (AOR 19.7, 95 % CI 2.18-178.8) were positively associated, while journal reading during unpaid hours (AOR 0.21, 95 % CI 0.07-0.62) was negatively associated with specific EROS subscales. Conclusions: In a setting with a positive research orientation, research engagement among the faculty was associated with paid research time, research work and journal reading during unpaid hours and more recent entry into clinical practice.
Obstetrics; Gynaecology; Attitude; Research involvement; Evidence-based practice
Background
Engagement of clinicians in research is essential for
ensuring that relevant clinical questions are posed and addressed.
Also, clinical experts sometimes have valuable insights that
can lead to unexpected advances in medical science. The
causal link between thalidomide and phocomelia was made
simultaneously by an obstetrician, William Mcbride, and a
pediatrician, Widukind Lenz, based on routine clinical
observation [
1–3
]. Similarly, clinical insight obtained in
routine practice led to the discovery that diethylstilbestrol
use in pregnancy caused clear cell vaginal adenocarcinoma
in daughters decades later [
4, 5
]. It is even claimed that
obstetrician John Snow’s attribution of cholera epidemics to
contaminated drinking water was based on a clinical
conviction that was merely confirmed by subsequent
epidemiologic research [
6, 7
].
Recognition of the clinician’s key role in advancing
medical science notwithstanding, academic faculties and
departments struggle with the challenge of effectively
engaging clinical faculty in research [
8–14
]. There are
many obstacles to clinician engagement and prominent
among these challenges is the recruitment, training and
retention of clinician researchers. Although a significant
proportion of medical students express a strong interest
in securing a full-time academic appointment with
research involvement, resource issues hamper recruitment
of clinician scientists. Specific issues include
remuneration for research, anxiety regarding the competitive
nature of research funding, inadequate research
infrastructure and lack of protected time for research [
8
].
In 2010, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
at the University of British Columbia created a Faculty
Forum for Research dedicated to increasing clinician
involvement in research. This effort is supported by a
generous philanthropic donation, the Fred Bryans endowment.
Given the goal of fostering an improved research culture
within the department, we carried out a study exploring
the determinants of positive research engagement among
the faculty.
Methods
In 2011 and 2014, the Edmonton Research Orientation
Survey (EROS) was circulated to all faculty members
within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at
the University of British Columbia (...truncated)