Development and implementation of a writing program to improve resident authorship rates

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Scholarly Writing
• Residency Training

Background:

• Pharmacy residencies offer opportunities for professional development.
• Developing strong writing and communication skills is crucial for pharmacists.
• Formalized writing programs can enhance resident scholarly output.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a writing program for pharmacy residents.
• To assess the impact of a formalized writing project on resident publications.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative, jointly funded writing program was established.
• Residents were offered diverse writing project opportunities (e.g., review articles, case reports, medication-use evaluations).
• Mentorship and a requirement for manuscript submission for publication were integrated.

Main Results:

• Prior to the program, 8 of 18 residents published 9 papers over four years.
• After program implementation, 18 of 25 residents (72%) published 23 papers over four years.
• The program demonstrated a substantial increase in resident publications.

Conclusions:

• A formal writing program significantly increased the publication rate of postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy residents.
• The program successfully enhanced residents' skills in communication, leadership, and project management.
• This initiative provides a model for improving scholarly productivity in pharmacy residency programs.