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Bibliometric measures have utility in assessing research productivity in academic plastic surgeons

Using the Hirsch index, researchers confirmed that academic rank in plastic surgery is strongly correlated with several quantitative metrics of research productivity.

The Hirsch index is the number of papers from a researcher and considers the citation counts for each paper. The index strives to provide a more comprehensive assessment of an investigator’s academic productivity.

The study sample included 91 plastic surgery programs across the U.S. and Canada accredited with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education database.

Researchers identified 607 academic plastic surgeons distributed by: 25 lecturers/instructors, 265 assistant professors, 134 associate professors, 156 professors and 27 endowed professors.

The Hirsch index was 10.2 ± 9 (range, 0 to 69) I-10 index 17.2 ± 10.2 (range, 0 to 349).

Lectures/instructors and assistant professors were equivalent in addition to professors and endowed professors, according to the Hirsch index.

The Hirsch index was significantly associated with academic rank; and similarly with the I-10 index, the total number of publications and the total number of citations.

Hirsch index, I-10 index, total number of publications and total number of citations were strongly positively correlated with academic rank.

Approximately 60% of variability in academic rank is not directly correlated to bibliometric factors, according to researchers.

“These results confirm the empirical observation that academic promotion is based on multiple factors, of which research productivity is one component,” the researchers wrote.

A surgeon’s overall clinical reputation, acquisition of research funding, administrative and teaching abilities, specialty society engagement and innovation are more important than any single measure for assessment of academic productivity and achievement, the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.