From Project to Publication: A Decade of Pharmacy Residency Research in the British Columbia Lower Mainland...

Research is a key component of pharmacy residencies, helping residents to develop research, communication, and time management skills. Publishing benefits residents professionally and shares findings with the clinical community, potentially improving patient care. Previous research found that pharmacy residency publication rates were 13% in the United States (1981-2018) and 32.2% in Canada, with a British Columbia-specific rate of 34.4% (1999/2000-2008/2009).

To determine the publication rate of Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services (LMPS) pharmacy residency projects for the period 2011/12 to 2020/21 and to characterize the studies performed.

A scoping review was conducted. Posters from LMPS residents (2011/12-2020/21) were compiled, and data on project and team characteristics were extracted. A standardized search of multiple data sources was used to identify publications based on the poster projects. Publication date and journal information were collected.

Of the 241 residency projects over the study period, 85 (35.3%) were published in 39 peer-reviewed journals across various topics; of these, 43 (50.6%) appeared in the Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy. The average time to publication was 24 (standard deviation [SD] 13) months after graduation. The 241 projects had an average of 3.4 (SD 1.6) collaborators, and 107 (44.4%) involved multidisciplinary members. Most of the 241 projects were conducted at a single site (68.5%, n = 165), most were retrospective (73.9%, n = 178), and most were cohort studies (63.9%, n = 154). The direction of inquiry (i.e., prospective vs retrospective) significantly affected publication status (p = 0.012), whereas the number of collaborators, the project's scope, and the study design did not affect publication.

Despite growth in the LMPS pharmacy residency program, publication rates for residents' projects were similar to those previously reported, and most projects remain unpublished. Using qualitative and quantitative methods to survey residents and preceptors may identify barriers to publication and inform the development of targeted supports.