Predictors of Publication Productivity Among Hospital Pharmacists in France and Quebec

Abstract

Objective. To describe publications by hospital pharmacists in France and Quebec and evaluate factors predictive of publication productivity. Method. Variables related to scientific publication productivity were identified through a search of the literature and organized into 4 themes (ie, personal and professional characteristics, hospital activities, research and publishing activities, publication-related motivations and perceptions). A questionnaire was developed that included short-answer items and 58 multiple-choice questions to determine respondents' level of agreement with statements about their motivations and perceptions surrounding publishing.Results. Four hundred twenty-two hospital pharmacists (218 respondents from France and 204 from Quebec) were recruited. Respondents from France were more prolific than those from Quebec, even when considering factors such as time worked and gender. Furthermore, the percentage of respondents working in a university health center was lower in France than Quebec (46% vs. 70%, p 5 0.001), as was the percentage of respondents indicating a mastery of English (43% vs. 88%, p 5 0.001). Conclusion. Seven factors were predictive of the number of publications per respondent in France and Quebec: practicing hospital pharmacy in France, being male, having academic duties or a PhD, having participated in a clinical trial, having secured funding in one's own name for a research project, and allocating a greater number of hours per week to research.

Anaesthesiology and research in South Africa: a proposal for a national collaborative anaesthesiology research group

“…[3][4][5] This association appears to correlate with the number of successful grant applications and the financial value of the grants. 6 The quality of the investigators A number of factors have been associated with the research productivity of individuals.…”

“…It has been shown that the most productive individuals have associated academic duties and protected research time. 4 The degree of productivity correlates with the amount of time that is allocated for research. 4,7 Conversely, an increasing clinical workload has either a nonsignificant 8 or significant negative correlation with research productivity.…”

“…4 The degree of productivity correlates with the amount of time that is allocated for research. 4,7 Conversely, an increasing clinical workload has either a nonsignificant 8 or significant negative correlation with research productivity. 9 Participation by investigators in clinical trials has also been associated with increased productivity.…”

“…Staff members who have postgraduate degrees are more productive. 4,8 When staff of this calibre are not available, strategic staff recruitment can increase and maintain research productivity. 11 Furthermore, if academic advancement is linked to scholarship, then further productivity has been observed.…”

“…9 Participation by investigators in clinical trials has also been associated with increased productivity. 4 Clinical trial participation probably entrenches the principles of sound study methodology and execution, while simultaneously enhancing capacity through the establishment of a local organised research office and dedicated research personnel at the institution where the research is being undertaken.…”