title: A survey of academic surgeons: work, stress, and research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An academic surgeon's workweek is divided among patient care, administrative duties, education, and research. The time available for research activities may change as a surgeon's career evolves. We sought to determine involvement of academic surgeons in research and to assess how this research endeavor was affected by demographic and workplace characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We constructed a survey to explore the following 4 domains: demographics, time allotment, research activities, and effects of stressors. We distributed the survey to members of the Society of University Surgeons. In addition to performing descriptive statistics, we defined an active researcher as someone with a funding source who devoted 15% or more work hours to research. Using this definition, we performed statistical analyses to assess the significance of independent variables on research. Stress factors were evaluated on a Likert scale with responses ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We received 314 completed surveys (response rate 23%). Of the respondents, 274 (87%) stated that they were involved in some kind of research activity; however, only 143 (46%) were active researchers. Using univariate logistic regression analysis, younger respondents and surgeons who practiced for more than 10 years were more likely to be active researchers (odds ratio [OR]: 1.93, confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-2.46 and OR: 2.06, CI: 1.64-2.59, respectively). Males were less likely than females to be active researchers (OR: 0.32, CI: 016-0.67); however, by multivariate analysis, we found that the "years in practice" of an active researcher was the most significant predictor of research activity, whereas age and sex were not. In regard to stress, most respondents reported scores of 1-3 for all 7 stressors, which is consistent with minimal to moderate stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Academic surgeons are involved actively in research; however, this involvement decreases as other professional responsibilities increase. To optimize the surgical research environment, departments should invest time and resources in young investigators to prevent them from decreasing their research activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
authors.forename: Nikunj K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Chokshi
authors.forename: Dianne M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: Ravi S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chari
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dorey
authors.forename: Yigit S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Guner
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Upperman
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012106:Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014937:Work