Predictors for publication of specialty theses in the field of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology

Abstract

Objective: Specialty theses in the field of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology (IDCM) play an important role in shaping medical knowledge, yet their publication in scientific journals remains a critical concern. We reviewed the theses of the IDCM specialty program, analyzed the publication rates in scientific journals, and made some recommendations for the future. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the registered IDCM theses in the electronic database of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK, Ankara) between 1984 and 2021. Specialty theses from other medical fields, PhD and master theses, were excluded from the study. Results: Out of 1265 theses, 1061 were included after exclusion criteria were applied. The study revealed that 647 (61%) of residents were female. Of 1061 authors, 117 (11%) received financial support during the preparation of the thesis. The most common thesis topics were viral hepatitis, healthcare-associated infections, antibiotic susceptibility, zoonotic diseases, febrile neutropenia, and sepsis. The predominant type of study design was observational (88%). Notably, 27 (3%) were randomized controlled trials. The overall rate of publication in a peer-reviewed journal was 25%. Nonetheless, 117 (11%) theses were published in the journals indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI) or the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCI-E). The median time from the presentation of theses to publication was four years. Conclusion: The publication rate of specialty theses in scientific journals in the field of IDCM was found to be low. Publication of the thesis as a scientific manuscript should be a part of the residency program and the completion process of the thesis. All the residents or young specialists should be encouraged to submit their theses for publication.