Factors influencing publication of scientific articles derived from masters theses in public health.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate theses of a Masters program in Public Health (MPH), in terms of the students' and theses' characteristics that influence publication of the thesis as a scientific article.


METHODS
Longitudinal study of students who successfully completed the MPH at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) from 2006 to 2010. Participants completed an electronic survey and additional data were gathered from university files.


RESULTS
162 students participated in the study (83 % response rate). 60.5 % had already published an article derived from their thesis at the time of the study or were in process of publishing it. The likelihood of publishing in a peer-reviewed journal was greater among women (aRR = 1.41), among those who had a bachelor's degree in sciences other than health (aRR = 1.40), had completed the MPH on time (aRR = 2.10), had enrolled in a doctoral program after the MPH (aRR = 1.44) or had a masters thesis score of ≥7 (aRR = 1.61).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of MPH students published their thesis in a peer-reviewed journal. The strongest predictors of successful publication were related to academic performance.
Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
Malen
M
Hollmann
Carme
C
Borrell
Olatz
O
Garin
Esteve
E
Fernández
Jordi
J
Alonso
D000328:Adult; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain