[Specialized positions, time allocation and clinical research at the Haukeland hospital]

An aim for Norwegian health care is to improve clinical medical research. Special positions for junior doctors are designated for research, quality control projects or subspecialization. In addition, four hours per week for all doctors at Haukeland University Hospital have recently been allocated to theoretical study. A questionnaire was sent to the heads of all 27 departments of Haukeland University Hospital to survey the use of these opportunities for medical research. There were 27 junior doctor positions for clinical research in 12 different departments, constituting 4% of all positions for doctors at the hospital. 15 departments, including several large ones, did not have any junior doctor positions for clinical research. For 15 of the 27 positions, approximately 50% of the working time was used for research with the goal of publishing in international referee-based journals. Four positions were used for clinical subspecialization, and eight positions were used entirely for routine clinical work. 14 department heads would give high priority to a new position for clinical research. Only 11 department heads claimed that the hours scheduled for theoretical work had improved research to some degree. There was general agreement that other aspects of department organisation was more important for promotion of research. Clinical research positions for junior doctors should be used for research, but even in an ambitious university hospital they are not fully used for such work. Most of the department heads have a clear ambition to improve the conditions for research in their departments.