[Reality in carrying out clinical studies in a non-university hospital]

Carrying out clinical research at non-university hospitals is complicated by a lack of appropriate material and staffing resources, but is necessary considering the far greater number of patients attending (approximately 80%). A poll of surgical department heads (n = 27) revealed that, nevertheless, scientific research, was carried out by a majority of them. Retrospective studies and case studies are being carried out in the majority at single centers, whereas for multicenter studies participation in prospective randomized studies predominates. Preferred subjects are surgical strategies and techniques. Publications are primarily in German, most of them being original articles. It is striking that there is a relatively high percentage of abstracts amongst the publications in English. Improved know-how and coordination centers simplify, while lack of time, increasingly similar performance figures, and wildly growing documentation complicate studies.