The physician-scientist in Canadian psychiatry

The objective of the study was to determine whether physician-scientists in psychiatry in Canada are in decline, as was reported for medicine overall during the 1990s in the United States.

Federal databases were searched to study grant applications in the area of mental health submitted by physician-scientists compared with PhD-scientists for the period 1985-2001. A survey of Canadian Residency Training Program Directors was carried out for the graduating class of 2000.

The Canadian publicly funded university system.

Applicants to the Medical Research Council of Canada and its successor, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, for operating grant support and Residency Training Program Directors.

None.

Comparison over time between MD and PhD applicants regarding the number of grant applications submitted, the proportion of applications funded and the number of new applications submitted, with separation of applications submitted to a predominantly "biomedical" peer review committee and to a predominantly "clinical research" peer review committee. The survey obtained information about a number of variables related to research training.

The situation for physician-scientists in psychiatry in Canada appeared remarkably similar to general findings in US studies. Relative to PhD applicants, fewer grant proposals were being made by physicians (paired t16 = 7.08, p < 0.001) and, in consequence, fewer proposals were funded. The proportion of proposals funded was similar for MD and PhD applicants (paired t16 = 0.27, p = 0.79). Grant applications made to the predominantly biomedical committee were more likely to be funded than applications to the committee with an orientation toward clinical research (paired t7 = 5.53, p < 0.001). Applications by PhD-scientists to the biomedical committee showed the largest increase over time and were the most successful. From the survey of graduating classes, close to one-third of residents had authored or co-authored a publication during residency. Only 7% were proceeding to research fellowship training. The remuneration available for fellowship training was about one-third of what graduating classmates could expect to earn in the first year of practice.

Quantitative data indicate that physician-scientists in psychiatry in Canada are experiencing the same pressures and challenges as physician-scientists in the United States. A plan of action tailored to the needs of the psychiatric community in Canada needs to be developed.