Reaching across the aisle: Cross‐disciplinary collaboration in otolaryngology research

Abstract

Objectives Collaboration and diversity of expertise are increasingly emphasized in the production of successful research. However, the degree of cross‐disciplinary collaboration in otolaryngology research is unknown. In this study, we quantify cross‐disciplinary collaboration in otolaryngology publications. Methods We retrospectively analyzed authorship and study characteristics for all original articles published from January 2014 to December 2016 in three key peer‐reviewed otolaryngology journals: Laryngoscope, Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, and JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. Author affiliations and online searches were used to determine author's primary discipline. Subspecialty topic of article, study design, and funding sources were also recorded. Fisher exact test was used to compare characteristics of articles with and without cross‐disciplinary authorship. Results A total of 2,378 articles were reviewed, of which 1,312 (55%) articles had one or more cross‐disciplinary collaborators. Among articles with cross‐disciplinary collaboration, the greatest representation of disciplines was from other medical specialties (1,109, 50.9%), epidemiology/biostatistics (266, 12.2%), pathology/histology (175, 8.0%), biologic sciences (168, 7.7%), and radiology/imaging (144, 6.6%). Cross‐disciplinary studies had a significantly greater proportion of articles on the topic of head and neck compared to studies without collaboration (P < 0.0001). The proportion of funded studies was significantly greater among articles with collaboration compared to articles without collaboration (P < 0.0001). Conclusion The majority of articles published during a 3‐year period in three influential otolaryngology journals had cross‐disciplinary collaboration. There is potential opportunity for further leveraging expertise, funding opportunities, and dissemination of key findings through collaborative research. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 129:1800–1805, 2019

Assessing the academic influence of otolaryngologists on sinus and allergy research

“…Otolaryngologists held the most substantial contributions in sinus research such as CRS and NP, while lagging behind in allergy‐related topics. Although this major representation in sinus related topics may not be surprising, an opportunity is revealed for greater interdisciplinary collaboration between otolaryngologists and medicine‐trained allergy specialists 7 . The allergy topics of AR, allergy immunotherapy, and food allergy received the greatest contribution from allergists in the top 100 articles between 2011 and 2016.…”