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Vol 33(4):192-288

Peer reviewed publications rates: an indication of research output

Belinda Lowcay, BBehavSc, is Research Officer, Primary Health Care Research and Information Service, Department of General Practice, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.

Ellen McIntyre, MSc, PhD, is Senior Research Fellow, Primary Health Care Research and Information Service, Department of General Practice, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.

Michelle Hale, BSc (Hons), PhD, is Post Doctoral Fellow, Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Alison M Ward, BPysch, PhD, is Director of Research and Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development, Discipline of General Practice, University of Western Australia.

BACKGROUND The General Practice Evaluation Program (GPEP) funded general practice research between 1990–1999. We were interested in the publication rate of GPEP funded research as a measure of its research productivity.

METHODS A literature search and an email survey of GPEP researchers. We compared publication rates between the types of grants, types of institutions, and academic status of the authors.

RESULTS By June 2002, there were 201 peer reviewed articles in a range of 64 Australian and international peer reviewed journals from 99 projects (41% of completed or in progress projects, mean 2.3 per project), ranging from 0–22 per project. Forty-one investigators indicated they were in the process of writing for publication or plan to publish. They were more likely to publish with the support of a university.

DISCUSSION GPEP has achieved one of its major objectives – to contribute to evidence and knowledge about general practice. The publication rate indicates that Australian general practice research should still improve.

Publication Date: 13 April 2004
Authorised By: Australian Family Physician