Research productivity among faculty members at medical and health schools in Saudi Arabia. Prevalence, obstacles, and associated factors.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence, factors and obstacles affecting research productivity among academic staff at medical and health colleges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: This cross-sectional survey employed self-administered questionnaires to collect data on faculty members' profile, research activities, and obstacles impeding research productivity. The questionnaires were distributed randomly to 500 faculty members, of which 389 (77.8%) completed the questionnaire at 10 medical and health colleges during January to April 2011. The data were analyzed and presented in a descriptive fashion.

RESULTS: Only 150 (38.6%) respondents reported published work in the past 2 years. Of these, 80% indicated sole-authors research and around a quarter (26%) reported co-authors work. Males and young faculty members were more likely to publish research than their counterparts. Faculty members who reported involvement in administrative activities were less likely to publish. Those who reported supervising postgraduate students or had attained training on research methods were more likely to produce research. Respondents perceived that lack of time, lack of research assistants, lack of funds for research, and being busy with teaching load were the most cited obstacles impeding research productivity.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding factors and barriers impeding research productivity is a prerequisite for interventions that are directed to promote health services research among faculty members in medical schools.