Research productivity among Canadian urology residents

A national, cross-sectional analysis

Authors

  • Ihtisham Ahmad Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Anna-Lisa V. Nguyen Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
  • Zizo Al-Daqqaq Division of Urology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Sanchit Kaushal Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Adree Khondker Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Mohamad Baker Berjaoui Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Naeem Bhojani Division of Urology, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
  • Monica A. Farcas Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Christopher J.D. Wallis Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • David-Dan Nguyen Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Jason Y. Lee Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.9915

Keywords:

Residency, academia, academic urology, Residency training

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to characterize and identify factors associated with research productivity of Canadian urology residents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used publicly available data to evaluate the research productivity of all active Canadian urology residents as of November 2023, regardless of start date. Trainee names and demographic data were collected using residency program websites and a systematic web search. Publication metrics were obtained from Scopus. Linear regression was used to model the associations between individual and program-level factors with publications per postgraduate year (PGY).

Results: We included 182 Canadian urology residents. The median total publications was four (interquartile range [IQR] 1, 8). The median publication-per-PGY was 0.25 (IQR 0.0, 0.8). The median h-index was 2 (IQR 1, 3). The male median pre-residency publications was two (IQR 1, 5) compared to female median pre-residency publications of one (IQR 0, 4, p=0.04). Pre-residency publications were associated with publications-per-PGY (β=0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08−0.12, p<0.001). Clinician-investigator program participation was associated with publications-per-PGY (β=5.27, 95% CI 3.60−6.94, p<0.001). No gender differences in productivity were observed during residency.

Conclusions: Pre-residency publications and participation in a clinician-investigator program were the strongest factors associated with productivity. These findings highlight the need for equitable early research mentorship and access to protected research time, alongside the influence of a research-active program environment. These publication-based benchmarks may inform trainee counseling and program policies aimed at supporting resident scholarship; however, publication counts do not capture research quality, impact, or resident competence.

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Published

2026-10-19

How to Cite

Ahmad, I., Nguyen, A.-L. V., Al-Daqqaq, Z., Kaushal, S., Khondker, A., Berjaoui, M. B., … Lee, J. Y. (2026). Research productivity among Canadian urology residents: A national, cross-sectional analysis. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.9915

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2027): CUAJ February

Section

Original Research

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