Problems and Perspectives of Ophthalmic Research in Germany: Results from a National Survey

Abstract

Purpose: To identify and describe the most relevant obstacles to carrying out ophthalmic research in Germany. Methods: Two research methods were used to assess current problems in ophthalmic research. First, 55 expert interviews were conducted with major stakeholders in ophthalmic research, and key problems were identified. An online questionnaire was then sent to 3,080 German ophthalmologists, of whom 927 responded by evaluating the current research situation within ophthalmology in Germany. We devised a score to rank areas of concern by multiplying the responders' rate, ranging between -3 (‘I disagree completely') and +3 (‘I fully agree'), with the percentage of response frequencies. The maximum possible score was 300. Results: The lack of opportunities to combine clinical work and research (score: 231.8) as well as unattractive career perspectives (175.7) were identified as the most relevant problems. Further barriers were difficulties in acquiring research funds (155.7), organizational problems at the local level (143.7) and a lack of support for women (24.1; among women: 122.3). Potential improvement was expected in particular from exemption from clinical work for scientific purposes; this was found to be more appealing than more prestigious awards for research achievements. A widely held position was that research projects should focus more closely on common eye diseases, and that vision research needs a more prominent profile among politicians and in the public arena. Conclusion: Our findings may help to initiate improvements in both research performance and outcomes.

Barriers to and Facilitators of a Career as a Physician‐Scientist Among Rheumatologists in the US

“…The Early Career Section of the American College of Cardiology recently conducted a similar survey of early career academicians in their field and found very similar results to those presented in our study, including insufficient funding, clinical workload, and lack of institutional commitment as major barriers to a career in research . A handful of other studies have indicated funding , mentoring , clinical workload and focus on clinical productivity , lack of protected time , economic disadvantage to a career in research , lack of institutional support and resources , organizational problems , lack of availability of collaborators , lack of support for women , personal attributes , and concerns about career sustainability are influential in pursing or maintaining research careers.…”

Evaluating scientific research barriers by gender and other characteristics from the perspective of ophthalmologists in Turkey: A multicenter survey study

“…Development in research is a continuum, meaning that the efforts to increase research productivity must be constantly up-dated. For this reason, survey studies to pinpoint the obstacles deterring researchers, the lead actors of SR, are the obvious approach [12][13][14], but few studies using this method in ophthalmology have been published. We found no such study in the literature for ophthalmologists in Turkey.…”