Academic otolaryngology in the new millennium: We are failing behind

OBJECTIVES: Determine if young academic otolaryngologists are exhibiting declining publication rates. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A sample of 50 academic otolaryngologists graduating during 1995 to 1999 was selected randomly. For the five years post-graduation, peer-reviewed publications were determined from MEDLINE. Publication rates were compared with prior decade cohorts (1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s). RESULTS: The recent cohort of academic otolaryngologists published a mean of 4.5 articles in five years versus 6.4 for the early 1990s cohort and 8.9 for the 1980s cohort, a statistically significant decline (P = 0.020, ANOVA). Similar declines in major otolaryngology articles (2.4 [1995 to 1999] vs 3.3 [1990 to 1994] vs 5.7 [1980s], P = 0.005) and number of first author articles (1.3 vs 1.6 vs 3.1, P = 0.007) published were noted. CONCLUSIONS: The scholarly output of young academic otolaryngologists is declining when compared with academic otolaryngologists graduating the 1980s and early 1990s. \SIGNIFICANCE: This raises concern for the potential career success of new academic otolaryngologists. (c) 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.