Patient-based research in a tertiary pediatric centre: A pilot study of markers of scientific activity and productivity

Objective: To characterize patient-based research in a large academic pediatric centre, to examine measures of research activity and productivity among the 44 clinical programs and to examine whether there is a relation among various measures of scientific productivity. Design: Survey. Participants: Clinical programs. Outcome measures: Analysis of all patient-based research projects for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 fiscal years, research funding and cumulative citation impact. Results: Only half of the research projects were funded by extramural grants (peer-reviewed or industrial). There were strong and significant correlations among the 3 markers of scientific activity and productivity: funding, peer-reviewed publications and cumulative citation impact. Only small programs with 3 or fewer faculty members with protected time available to develop research programs achieved a citation impact of 30 or more per full-time equivalent position, with larger programs being 'diluted' by clinicians performing little or no research. Conclusions: In the context of patient-based research, quantity of research correlated with measures of quality. This study highlights the need for clinical departments and medical faculties to consider activity and productivity markers in setting standards for patient-based research.