A Blueprint for Improving the Research Infrastructure of a Pediatric Hospital Medicine Division

Background: While research barriers in academic medical practice have been identified in prior studies, the facilitators and barriers to research productivity for pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) faculty in the era of board certification are not well described. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) identify the perceived facilitators and barriers to research productivity among PHM faculty at a large tertiary care children’s hospital, and (2) explore potential differences between fellowship-trained and non-fellowship-trained faculty in their perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to research. Methodology: A survey was distributed to eligible PHM faculty members from the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine of a large tertiary care children’s hospital. The survey, developed using the Bland model of faculty research productivity as a framework, assessed factors related to mentorship, networking, resource utilization, and training. Data were collected over 14 weeks and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The response rate was 41%, with 28 faculty members responding out of 68 total. Non-clinical time and mentorship emerged as the strongest facilitators. Additional facilitators included supervised health services research and networking. Research barriers included time limitations, burnout, and limited supporting resources. There was no statistically significant difference in answers for the most common barriers comparing the fellowship-trained and non-fellowship-trained groups. Conclusions: This study identifies key facilitators and barriers to research productivity among PHM faculty, highlighting the importance of mentorship, non-clinical time, and resources. These insights suggest actionable strategies to enhance research productivity. The strategies aim to foster a culture of scholarly productivity within the division and may serve as a model for similar academic PHM divisions.