Why research productivity of medical faculty declines after attaining professor rank? A multi-center study from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives: Research has shown a fall of research productivity of faculty after their promotion to professor rank. This study explores the factors that lead to this decline in research productivity of professors in medical discipline.

Methods: A 20-item questionnaire was distributed online to medical professors of a Saudi, Malaysian and a Pakistani medical school. The participants were instructed to select their responses on a 5-point Likert’s scale and the collected data was analyzed for quantitative and qualitative results.

Results: Of 161, 110 responded; response rate of 68.3%. About 35% professors spent 1–4 hours and 2% spent 19–25 hours per week for research. As many as 7% did not publish a single article and 29% had published 10 or more articles after attaining professor rank. During the last two years, 44% professors had published 5 or more research articles. Majority pointed out a lack of research support and funds, administrative burden and difficulty in data collection as the main obstacles to their research.

Conclusions: This research has identified time constraints and insufficient support for research as key barriers to medical professors’ research productivity. Financial and technical support and lesser administrative work load are some suggested remedies to foster the professors’ research output.

Acknowledgments

Authors are deeply thankful to all participants from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Pakistan for providing their insightful feedback and opinions that made this research possible. We are also grateful to the Research center of the College of Medicine TU for supporting this research.

The Saudi Supplement on Medical Education is sponsored and supported by Al Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Salman Yousuf Guraya

Salman Yousuf Guraya, FRCS, Masters MedEd, is Vice Dean and Professor of Surgery at the College of Medicine University of Sharjah UAE. He has experience and special interest in colorectal cancer and bariatric surgery. Being a medical educator, he has done extensive research in medical professionalism and research ethics.

Khalid Ibrahim Khoshhal

Khalid Ibrahim Khoshhal, FRCS, is Professor of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at the College of Medicine Taibah University KSA. He has special interest in medical education and serves as Editor in Chief of Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences and Journal of Musculooskeltal Surgery and Research.

Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff

Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff, PhD, MedEd, is Chairman of Medical Education Department in University Sains Malaysia. He has expertize in medical student wellbeing, assessment, and curriculum development.

Maroof Aziz Khan

Maroof Aziz Khan, FRCS, is Professor of ENT at King Edward Medical University Pakistan and has special interest in medical education.