[Research positions for junior physicians as research resource].
BACKGROUND
Positions for junior doctors specially designated to research serve to promote this mission at university hospitals.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to nine leading Norwegian hospitals in order to assess the status of junior doctors' research positions as well as plans and strategies for such positions. The answers involved both the hospital leadership and the individual departments.


RESULTS
All hospitals supported positions for junior doctors in medical research. They aimed at more employees with double competence: a doctoral degree and a medical specialty. Several research positions were used at the post-doctoral level. So far the individual departments have been instrumental in establishing research positions for junior doctors.


CONCLUSIONS
In hospital research positions, at least 50 % of doctors' working time should be allocated to well-defined and sufficiently ambitious research projects. The major hospitals intend to establish more such positions. The Norwegian Medical Association should support this initiative by making these positions attractive for the institutions as well as for doctors, not least by giving the highest priority to medical research in its statements, negotiating stances and strategies.
Gilhus
Nils Erik
NE
Institutt for klinisk medisin, Universitetet i Bergen, og Nevrologisk avdeling, Haukeland Universitetssjukehus, 5021 Bergen. negl@helse-bergen.no
Hjortdahl
Per
P
D035843:Biomedical Research; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004651:Employment; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009664:Norway; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce