Emergency medicine resident research requirements and director characteristics

Objectives: To describe emergency medicine (EM) residency program research requirements, characterize research directors (RDs), and describe their res earch activities and productivity. Methods: A survey with questions address ing program research requirements, RDs' background, type of research produc tivity, time spent, and compensation was mailed to RDs at all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved programs. Results: One hundred of 111 (90%) RDs responded; 54 of the 100 respondents were fro m university programs. Research is a formal requirement in 80% of EM progra ms. Writing a manuscript (35%) and major involvement in a project (31%) are the most common minimum requirements. University and community programs ha d similar research requirements and were equally likely to have delayed wit hheld certificates. Eighty-six percent of the RDs were male; 70% held this position for <5 years and 70% plan on being in the position for less than o r equal to 5 additional years. More than half were junior faculty and 21 ha d completed a fellowship. Most (88%) did not serve in an associate RD posit ion, and currently only 20 programs reported having this position. Fifty-fo ur percent had protected time. Median hour/week time allocations are: clini cal-22, own research-10, other people's research-6, administration-5, and d epartment administration-5. Factors associated with research productivity w ere senior rank (OR 6.87), having a research assistant (OR 4.78), protected time for their own research (OR 3.06), and reporting that extramural fundi ng was considered in the RD's performance evaluation (OR 2.69). Conclusions : Most programs have established research requirements. Most RDs are junior faculty, have limited research training, expect a short tenure in the posi tion, and have variable access to research resources. EM needs to foster an environment that will enable us to thrive in the academic community and cr eate opportunity for residents to participate in meaningful research. This requires that all RDs have protected time, and that a greater proportion be at the associate or full professor level, have qualified research assistan ts, and receive periodic evaluation reviewing their ability to generate ext ernal funds. Appointment of associate RDs may improve research training and help ensure qualified RDs.