Agreement and reproducibility of subjective methods of measuring faculty time distribution.
OBJECTIVE
The authors performed this study to compare self-reported estimates of the time radiology members spend performing various activities between reporting methods and academic years.


METHODS
For 3 consecutive academic years, the percentage of time each faculty member reported spending on clinical, teaching, research, and service and/or administrative activities was noted on each of three separate reports: a quarterly report to department administration, an annual report to university administration, and the annual review with his or her department supervisor. For each activity, the means were compared between methods and between years.


RESULTS
In general, the year-to-year changes in mean percentage for each activity and method were not statistically significant (34 of 36 comparisons). Nineteen of 36 comparisons, however, showed significant differences between reporting methods for a particular activity. For example, the mean percentages obtained with the three methods from 1999 to 2000 varied from 49% to 66% (clinical), 14% to 34% (teaching), 8% to 15% (research), and 3% to 11% (service and/or administrative).


CONCLUSIONS
Current methods used to quantify faculty time distribution yield significantly different results despite internal consistency from year to year for each method. New and clearer methods for determining faculty time distribution are needed.
Cohen
Mervyn D
MD
Department of Radiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
Jennings
S Gregory
SG
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007587:Job Description; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013663:Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013995:Time