National and International Comparisons of Gynecological Research in Germany Based on a Bibliometric Analysis of Publications

Abstract

Background

Recent years have seen a considerable shift from male doctors to female doctors in the field of gynecology. Female doctors are traditionally more involved with planning and maintaining their family. For gynecology, this could be associated with a risk that research activities will decrease, particularly if results are published in scientific journals.

Methods

In view of this shift, a comparative observational study was carried for 2022 in which 1306 publications were matched to 1786 female and male doctors reported on the websites of the 44 locations of university gynecology departments in Germany. In addition, the volume of publications issued between 2014 and 2022 was compared for Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In Germany, the volume of publications in Gynecology was additionally compared with the publication outputs of the specialties Urology and Trauma Surgery.

Results

Since 2014, the increase in the numbers of publications in the field of Gynecology in Germany was lower (225%) than that of the countries with which it was compared (238%/252%/260% for F/UK/USA). When Gynecology was compared with other medical specialties in Germany, the number of publications in Urology were found to have increased at a lower rate (196%) while the number of publications in the field of Trauma Surgery increased by more (286%) than that of Gynecology. At the start of 2023, the percentage of women who were working as doctors at the lowest hierarchical level (junior doctor) was 81%. The publication output per capita of female doctors working at lower levels in the medical hierarchy, i.e., working as junior doctors and senior physicians, was between 40% and 80% lower than that of male doctors working at the same level. However, female directors published as much as male directors did. In the lower hierarchy levels, men were up to 14% more likely to be without an academic title. Predictors for more extensive publication activities by young female and male doctors include the extent and quality of publications by doctors in senior positions, the presence of a comprehensive cancer center or an institute for human genetics at the location where the young doctors were working, and joint publications with foreign authors.

Conclusion

For the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the results suggest a number of approaches to promote young researchers. The support provided to young female doctors is especially important as this should help to retain them as junior researchers over the long term.

Keywords

gynecology - obstetrics - publication output - research activity

Publication History

Received: 02 February 2024

Accepted: 08 February 2024

Article published online:
10 April 2024

• References/Literatur

• 1 Kamrani P, Dorsch I, Stock WG. Publikationen, Zitationen und H-Index im Meinungsbild deutscher Universitätsprofessoren. Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung 2020; 42: 78-98
• 2 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft | AG Publikationswesen. Wissenschaftliches Publizieren als Grundlage und Gestaltungsfeld der Wissenschaftsbewertung. 2022 Accessed October 25, 2023 at: https://www.dfg.de/resource/blob/175770/5772e3980d4e81991dc716f94fbc2382/positionspapier-publikationswesen-data.pdf
• 3 Ohmann P. Deutschland ein Sonderfall? Rahmenbedingungen für klinische Studien in Europa (Beispiele). IQWiG-Herbst-Symposium. 2016 Accessed October 25, 2023 at: https://www.iqwig.de/veranstaltungen/hs16_christian_ohmann_deutschland_ein_sonderfall_rahmenbedingungen_fuer_klinische_studien_in_europa.pdf?rev=117386
• 4 Loos S, Sander M, Albrecht M. Systematische Situationsanalyse zum wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchs in der klinischen Forschung. IGES Bericht. 2014 Accessed October 25, 2023 at: https://www.iges.com/e6/e1621/e10211/e8885/e9500/e9501/e9503/attr_objs9504/IGES_Nachwuchs_WEB_ger.pdf
• 5 Schmermund K. Arbeitsbelastung – Hat die Wissenschaft ein Work-Life-Balance-Problem? – Forschung & Lehre (Forschung und Lehre). 2020 Accessed October 25, 2023 at: https://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/karriere/hat-die-wissenschaft-ein-work-life-balance-problem-3144
• 6 Bühren A, Eckert J. „Feminisierung“ der Ärzteschaft: Überschätzter Effekt. Dtsch Arztebl Ausg A 2011; 108: A 1168-1170
• 7 Wolff F, Aydeniz B, Gropp-Meier M. Umfrage der BLFG: Klinikkarriere und Zukunftsperspektiven in der Frauenheilkunde. Hg. v. Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Leitender Ärztinnen und Ärzte in der Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe. V. (BLFG). 2022 Accessed October 25, 2023 at: https://www.blfg.de/aktuelles/umfrage-der-blfg-klinikkarriere-und-zukunftsperspektiven-in-der-frauenheilkunde
• 8 von dem Knesebeck O, Klein J, Grosse Frie K. et al. Psychosocial stress among hospital doctors in surgical fields: results of a nationwide survey in Germany. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107: 248-253 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2010.0248.
• 9 Scharf JL, Bringewatt A, Dracopoulos C. et al. Stimmungsbild des ärztlichen Nachwuchses in der Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe in Norddeutschland. Eine umfassende Bestandsaufnahme ausbildender Kliniken im Bereich der Norddeutschen Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe mit Charakterisierung des ärztlichen Nachwuchses und einer praxisorientierten Herangehensweise in Vorbereitung auf die Generation Z. Gynäkologe 2022; 55: 447-454 DOI: 10.1007/s00129-022-04942-5.
• 10 Knabl J, Neimann J, Lermann J. et al. Junges Forum. Arbeitsbelastung in der Geburtshilfe – eine „Status-quo-Bestimmung“. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2015; 75: 120 DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1545856.
• 11 Statistisches Bundesamt. Verkehrsunfälle und Verunglückte im Zeitvergleich (ab 1950). 2023 Accessed October 24, 2023 at: https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Verkehrsunfaelle/Tabellen/liste-strassenverkehrsunfaelle.html#251628
• 12 Lange R, Kusch A, Hesse R. et al. Clinician-Scientist-Programme: Zwischen Individualität und Standard. Dtsch Arztebl Ausg A 2023; 120: A86-88