Research and publication trends in hospital medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND Research by hospitalists may aid the evolution of hospital medicine into an academic specialty. OBJECTIVE To describe the factors associated with research and publication activities among hospitalists and describe trends in hospitalist‐led publications. METHODS We surveyed members of the Society of Hospital Medicine in June 2012 and conducted univariate analyses on their responses to determine predictors of successful authorship and to describe factors associated with research engagement. We searched PubMed from the database inception to October 2013 for publications with “hospitalist” or “hospital medicine” affiliated authors. Original research articles were reviewed for methodology and funding sources. RESULTS Of the 645 respondents (5.8% response rate), 277 (43%) had authored peer‐reviewed publications, 126 (19%) had access to mentorship, and 68 (11%) reported funding support. There were 213 (33%) who were engaged in research, with the majority conducting quality improvement (QI) research (n = 152, 24%). Completion of a fellowship, pediatrics training, the presence of a mentor, funding, and >25% protected time for research were each individually associated with an increased likelihood of authoring publications. Hospitalist‐led publications in PubMed have been increasing from 36 in 2006 to 179 in the first 10 months of 2013. Of the original research publications (n = 317), the majority were clinical (n = 129, 41%), and 58 (18%) were QI. Thirty‐nine (22%) authors reported funding support. CONCLUSIONS Peer‐reviewed publications by hospitalists are increasing, suggesting the academic maturation of hospital medicine. Provision of mentorship for hospitalists specifically in QI and guidance toward funding resources may assist in supporting this trend. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:148–154. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine

Scholarly Productivity and Rank in Academic Hospital Medicine

“…Prior studies have reported that less than half of academic hospitalists have ever published, and fewer than one in eight have received research funding. 11,12 It is encouraging, however, that publications increase with time after residency. These data are consistent with the literature demonstrating a modest increase in hospitalists who had ever published, increasing from 43.0% in 2012 to 48.6% in 2020.…”

“…These data are consistent with the literature demonstrating a modest increase in hospitalists who had ever published, increasing from 43.0% in 2012 to 48.6% in 2020. 12 Despite these trends, however, some early-career academic hospitalists report ambivalence toward academic productivity and promotion. 13 Whether this ambivalence is the source of low scholarship output or the outcome of insufficient mentorship and limited research success is uncertain.…”

Understanding Career Success and Its Contributing Factors for Clinical and Translational Investigators

“…Research has shown that protected time is critical to faculty job satisfaction 28 and physicians’ publication rates. 29 These findings also suggest the need for alternative mechanisms to protect early-career investigators from the demands of clinical responsibilities during a critical period of their research career development.…”

State of Research in Adult Hospital Medicine: Results of a National Survey

“…A 2014 survey of the members of the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) found that research output across the field of HM, as measured on the basis of peer-reviewed publications, was growing. 4 Since then, however, the numbers of individuals engaged in research activities, their background and training, publication output, or funding sources have not been quantified. Similarly, little is known about which institutions support the development of junior investigators (ie, HM research fellowships), how these programs are funded, and whether or not matriculants enter the field as investigators.…”