Content analysis and publication outcomes of projects by public health medicine registrars.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the content of the project work of public health medicine registrars in New Zealand and identify publication outcomes.


METHODS
All projects submitted during 1987-97 were examined and key aspects captured on a database. Literature searches using Medline, Health Star, Index New Zealand and the NZ National Library catalogue were undertaken.


RESULTS
A total of 355 registrar projects produced by 91 registrars were identified. Only 29% of these projects were associated with one or more publications that could be identified in electronic databases commonly available to New Zealanders and only 16% of them were associated with an article in the Medline-indexed literature. A possible cause for concern is the relatively small amount of project work (6% of projects) that was directly on Maori and/or Pacific Peoples' health. There also appears to be a relative lack of project work on chronic disease epidemiology and control, tobacco control and the socio-economic determinants of health.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the relatively high quality of registrar project work, a publication rate of only 29% is probably suboptimal. The subject matter of registrar projects appears to infrequently address certain major areas of public health importance including Maori and Pacific Peoples' health.


CONCLUSIONS
Consideration should be given to addressing these issues by those involved in public health medicine training.
Wilson
N
N
Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand. nwilson@actrix.gen.nz
Thomson
G
G
D015706:Bibliometrics; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D012106:Research