title: Surgical grand rounds at a University Hospital. Applying "publication presentation index" to evaluate outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical grand rounds (SGR) are an important educational activity in all teaching hospitals however each institute has its own way of conducting them. At our institute, grand rounds in the Department of Surgery include an original research presentation by residents. The publication of the research work acts as a measure of its success. In this study we analyzed the outcome of this activity and review factors affecting their progression to publication.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all presentations made at the Surgical Grand Round at a University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2010. Presentations with incomplete follow up records were excluded from analysis. A Publication-Presentation Index (PPI) was used to evaluate outcomes of SGRs and to study factors influencing outcomes. Differences in PPI in each category were calculated using the chi square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total of 470 presentations were made. Majority presented retrospective studies (73%). Majority of the presentations were made by junior residents (year 1-3, 62%). Following presentation, 279 (59.4%) studies were presented at a national conference, 80 (17%) were presented at an international forum while only 99 (21.1%) studies were published. Mean presentation to publication time was 34.8 months. Study design, level of resident, section of surgery, sample size and national/international presentation were associated with conversion to a publication (all p < 0.05). Overall PPI was 0.32. Randomized controlled trials had the highest PPI (0.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of SGR presentations converted into national/international presentations and/or publications was found to be low. The PPI has a potential to be used as a tool to study the association of presentation to publication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, P.O. Box 3500, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahrukh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Effendi
authors.forename: Syed Nabeel
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.forename: Syed Johar
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahzad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shamim
authors.forename: Mohammad Hammad
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ather
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011642:Publications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D056164:Teaching Rounds / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data