title: Impediments to research in pediatric dermatology: the results of a survey of the members of the society for pediatric dermatology.
abstract: A research task force of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) was established to investigate the barriers to expanding research in the field of pediatric dermatology. A survey was designed to address constraints limiting research activities among members of the SPD. A nine-question survey was distributed to SPD members at the annual meeting in 2007. Of the 70 respondents, 99% reported limitations to research activities. Of those, 90% (62/69) cited time constraints as a cause, 71% lack of funding, 38% lack of training, 35% lack of research infrastructure, 10% (7/69) lack of mentoring, and 25% (17/69) cited other reasons. SPD members face many challenges that curtail their bench and clinical research, although time constraints are most common. The high demand for clinic-directed activity and continuing workforce issues in the specialty likely contribute to the time constraints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA. pediderm@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sugarman
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: Venetia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Paller
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D003880:Dermatology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010372:Pediatrics; D012955:Societies, Medical