[Analysis of the otorhinolaryngological doctoral theses submitted in Spain between 1976 and 2005].
OBJECTIVE
The importance of otorhinolaryngology as a separate branch of medicine has grown in the last decades. The objective of this work is to analyze the doctoral theses in ENT presented in Spain between 1976 and 2005.


METHODS
The TESEO database was searched for theses on otorhinolaryngology produced in Spain between 1976 and 2005. The search criteria used were the terms "Otorhinolaryngology," "Ear, nose, and throat surgery," "Hearing physiology," "Vestibular physiology," "Hearing physics," and "Bioacoustics".


RESULTS
468 theses were found (15.6 theses/year). Of these, 343 (73.6 %) were submitted by otorhinolaryngologists. The Universities of Valencia (Estudi General) (49), Complutense of Madrid (42), Salamanca (39), Barcelona (35), and Autònoma of Barcelona (31) accounted for most of the theses. The name of the supervisor was listed in 376 of the 468 theses (80.4 %); 286 of them had only 1 supervisor (76.1 %) and 90 had 2 (23.9 %). The most frequent topics were otology and audiology (35.1 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Otorhinolaryngology in Spain has produced a similar number of theses as other areas of knowledge evaluated. The supervision of theses has tended to be shared in the most recent years studied. The number of theses submitted each year did not have only academic influences but also non-academic reasons.
de Diego
Juan Ignacio
JI
Departamento de Cirugía (Otorrinolaringología). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Servicio de Otorrinolaringología. Hospital Universitario La Paz. Madrid. España. jidediegompprim@eresmas.net
Prim
María Pilar
MP
D004212:Academic Dissertations as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010036:Otolaryngology; D013030:Spain