The status of research in ambulatory pediatrics

R. A. Parish and A. H. Novack

To investigate the status of clinical research in ambulatory pediatrics and to characterize those environments that produce the most research activities and receive funding for research, a questionnaire survey was undertaken of all ambulatory pediatrics programs in the United States and Canada (N = 143). Our response rate was 68%. We found that divisions of ambulatory pediatrics that conduct clinical research have more faculty with formal research training, faculty with more time devoted to research endeavors, a designated research coordinator, research funding, and regular research seminars. Divisions of ambulatory pediatrics that have funding for research have more faculty with formal research training, fellows, a designated research coordinator, and regular research seminars. Funding for research is a more influential factor in producing clinical research than the number of faculty members in the division. The most frequently mentioned barrier to doing research was lack of time. Divisions of ambulatory pediatrics must continue to stress formal research training, faculty time set aside for research, and skills in grant writing if they hope to compete for academic recognition in the years ahead.