EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SABBATIC AL LEAVES - HOSPITAL-CLINIC-I-PROVINCIAL, BARCELONA, SPAIN (1980-1991)

BACKGROUND: The development of an evaluation protocol for assessing th e scientific contribution and the impact on medical care of the sabbat ical leaves granted in a large Spanish teaching hospital. METHODS: The sabbatical leaves for all faculty staff of the Hospital Clinic I Prov incial of Barcelona (HCPB) were analyzed since 1980 trough 1991. The s cientific production analysis was done according to the impact factor (IF) score of the Science Citation Index. Descriptive statistical tech niques as well as parametric and non-parametric tests were used for co mparisons. RESULTS: A total of 52 sabbatical leaves was analyzed of al l 60 leaves granted (87%). Mean duration of the leave was 7,94 +/- 3,8 6 months. The scientific production includes 89 original articles publ ished in peer reviewed medical journals, with a total score of 300,82 IF points (mean score: 5,78 +/- 7,12 IF points by leave). There were s ignificant differences In the mean duration, number of papers publishe d and IF points score by sabbatical leave between the Medicine, Surger y and Other Departments. In 16 cases (31%) there was a professional pr omotion following the sabbatical leave and in 20 cases (39%) an academ ic promotion, In 27 cases (60%) there was no promotion after the leave . Most of the faculty staff physicians (96%) are still employed in the same institution, and believe that the sabbatical leave has significa ntly contributed to their promotion (67%). A high percentage (94%) has also been able to develop afterwards the methods and techniques learn ed during the sabbatical leave. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of the Hos pital Clinic of Barcelona in granting sabbatical leaves has been highl y positive. The scientific performance of the individuals on leave is high. Our institution has been able to add and develop most of the tec hniques and methods learned overseas. The future of the sabbatical lea ves In other Spanish Universities and Hospitals should be regarded as a high priority target. The performance of these leaves Is supported b y its scientific results, that could be quantified.