Surgical resident research in New England

Hypothesis: This study sought to determine the attitudes of general surgery residents in New England toward research and the factors that affect their research participation and productivity. Design: Survey. Setting: Eighteen of the 20 general surgery residency programs in New Engla nd. Participants: Four hundred fifty-nine surgical residents taking the America n Board of Surgery In-Training Examination in 1999. Main Outcome Measures: Rationale for and amount of time spent in research a nd thf number of publications. Results: A majority of residents (61%) participated in research. Rationales for research participation included initiating an academic career (82%) an d enhancing fellowship application prospects (83%). Personal debt was subst antial, but had little influence on decisions regarding research. Gender wa s not a factor in the decision to participate in research, although women w ere more likely to cite a break from residency as a positive influence in t heir decision for doing research. Residents from larger programs (>25 resid ents) were more likely to participate in rt search, spend more time in rese arch, and to publish art article than those from programs with fewer than 2 5 residents. Conclusions: Most surgical residents in New England plan to or participate in research and publish their work. Significant differences in the type, du ration, anti productivity; of research exist between larger and smaller pro grams. and may reflect differing priorities among residents dents, or diffe rences in the variety of research opportunities available.