Dissemination of the work of public health medicine trainees in peer-reviewed publications: an unfulfilled potential.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent to which work undertaken during training in public health medicine was formally disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.


METHODS
An English Health Region.


METHODS
A postal questionnaire survey of former and current senior trainees.


RESULTS
The response rate was 75% (38/51). Thirty per cent (11/37) had no publications arising from any work undertaken during training and specifically 49% (18/37) had no publications arising from submissions made for the Part II examination for Membership of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine. Major perceived barriers to publication were: lack of priority accorded to publication by the training department; lack of time and lack of a supervisor or mentor to facilitate preparation of material.


CONCLUSIONS
Overcoming these perceived barriers will require action at trainee, trainer and organisational level. Skills training in writing could be included in academic courses and publication could be identified as a training goal for appropriate pieces of work. Health authorities could be more active in encouraging publication of work undertaken by trainees on their behalf.
Donaldson
I J
IJ
Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Cresswell
P A
PA
D001319:Authorship; D003154:Community Medicine / Q000193:education*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D010380:Peer Review; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*