Pharmacy resident project publication rates and study designs from 1981, 1991, and 2001

The publication rates and characteristics of residency projects presented at the Southeastern Residency Conference (SERC) in 1981, 1991, and 2001 are described.

SERC abstracts from 1981, 1991, and 2001 were searched in MEDLINE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts with a time limit of six years after the conference. All potential positive publications were reviewed and validated by a second investigator. Publication rates and other secondary variables, including study design, authors' degrees, reporting of results, time to publication, and journal of publication, were compared, with differences noted.

A total of 272 abstracts were evaluated. Publication in a journal was achieved for 18 (20%) of 90 projects presented in 1981, 11 (16%) of 70 projects presented in 1991, and 14 (13%) of 112 projects presented in 2001. The median time to publication for all abstracts was 22.8 months. Publications rates decreased at each subsequent time period. Projects published in journals with high impact factors had a longer median time to publication compared with other projects. Abstracts that reported results were published more often than those that did not (43% versus 23%), as were those that included a physician coauthor compared with those that did not (32% versus 19%). Observational studies were the most common study designs and were most published.

Approximately 16% of pharmacy residents' research projects presented at SERC in 1981, 1991, and 2001 were published. Projects with observational study designs were the most common study type and were the most commonly published.