An Investigation into the Current Landscape, Challenges, and Training Imperatives of Clinical Research Among Anesthesiologists in China.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the status of anesthesiologists in clinical research in China, identify challenges, and propose strategies to improve research quality and anesthesiology services.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among registered clinical anesthesiologists in China from April to May 2023. The questionnaire, which was developed by a multidisciplinary team following a workshop, covered sociodemographic characteristics, clinical research status, skills, motivations, challenges, and training needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression to examine the factors associated with research publications.

Results: Of the 878 analyzed respondents, 85.08% showed positive attitudes towards clinical research, yet the publication rates were low (59.68% in Chinese, 14.24% in English). Professional title promotions (78.70%) and solving clinical problems (69.48%) were the primary motivators. The respondents reported needing training in statistical analysis (74.69%), research design (73.86%), and topic selection (72.34%). The self-reported deficiencies included ability (73.01%), time (69.93%), and funding (60.71%). Significant differences (P<0.01) existed between publishers and non-publishers regarding age, education, title, research experience, training, and hospital characteristics. Educational background, professional title, research experience, and training were identified as independent factors that influenced publication rates.

Conclusion: This study identified major obstacles in anesthesiologists' research engagement, including time constraints, skill deficits, and funding issues, despite high interest. Career advancement was the primary motivation for the study. This study emphasizes the need for enhanced training in statistics and research designs. Factors such as education, title, experience, and training independently impact publication output.