Twenty years of research output by Australasian colorectal surgeons; more clinical trials are needed.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Well-designed and well-conducted research has a tangible impact on the scientific community and can optimise medical decision-making. Assessment and benchmarking of research is necessary for the practice of evidence-based medicine and is also important in securing funding and grants for future studies. To date, there has been no evidence regarding the quantity and quality of research output of colorectal surgeons in Australia and NZ. Such information is valuable as it may help guide directions for future research. AIM To quantify the amount and type of research published by current members of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ) over the last 20 years. METHOD All current members of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and NZ (CSSANZ) were identified in December 2017. A search of the Scopus database was conducted to quantify each surgeon’s research output from the past 20 years (1998 - 2017). The year of publication, topic of each paper and type of study conducted (randomised control trial, case report, etc) were recorded. RESULTS A total of 4105 papers were published in the 20 year period studied. Of the major colorectal pathologies, the most popular topic was colorectal cancer, followed by pelvic floor disorders and inflammatory bowel disease (32%, 4% and 3.5% of all papers published, respectively). Approximately one quarter of all research output (24%) was unable to be categorised while 19% of publications were on non-colorectal topics. The most popular type of studies were audits/case series, comprising 21% of all studies. Randomised control trials made up 7% of total research volume, while only 56 papers (1.4%) described novel surgical techniques. CONCLUSION Colorectal surgeons have contributed greatly to the medical literature over the past 20 years. Colorectal cancer is the most published research topic and this has been consistent over 20 years. Randomised control trials are lacking and measures need to be put in place to improve this aspect of research output.