Heart, Lung and Circulation ( IF 2.2 ) Pub Date : 2020-08-21 , DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2020.07.010 Rachel E Climie 1 , Jason H Y Wu 2 , Anna C Calkin 3 , Niamh Chapman 4 , Sally C Inglis 5 , Katrina M Mirabito Colafella 6 , Dean S Picone 4 , Joanne T M Tan 7 , Emma Thomas 8 , Helena M Viola 9 , Steven G Wise 10 , Andrew J Murphy 11 , Mark R Nelson 4 , Stephen J Nicholls 12 , Livia C Hool 13 , Kerry Doyle 14 , Gemma A Figtree 15 , Francine Z Marques 16 ,
Background
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. Investment in research solutions has been demonstrated to yield health and a 9.8-fold return economic benefit. The sector, however, is severely challenged with success rates of traditional peer-reviewed funding in decline. Here, we aimed to understand the perceived challenges faced by the cardiovascular workforce in Australia prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
We used an online survey distributed across Australian cardiovascular societies/councils, universities and research institutes over a period of 6 months during 2019, with 548 completed responses. Inclusion criteria included being an Australian resident or an Australian citizen who lived overseas, and a current or past student or employee in the field of cardiovascular research.
Results
The mean age of respondents was 42±13 years, 47% were male, 85% had a full-time position, and 40% were a group leader or laboratory head. Twenty-three per cent (23%) had permanent employment, and 82% of full-time workers regularly worked >40 hours/week. Sixty-eight per cent (68%) said they had previously considered leaving the cardiovascular research sector. If their position could not be funded in the next few years, a staggering 91% of respondents would leave the sector. Compared to PhD- and age-matched men, women were less likely to be a laboratory head and to feel they had a long-term career path as a cardiovascular researcher, while more women were unsure about future employment and had considered leaving the sector (all p<0.05). Greater job security (76%) and government and philanthropic investment in cardiovascular research (72%) were highlighted by responders as the main changes to current practices that would encourage them to stay.
Conclusion
Strategic solutions, such as diversification of career pathways and funding sources, and moving from a competitive to a collaborative culture, need to be a priority to decrease reliance on government funding and allow cardiovascular researchers to thrive.
中文翻译:
缺乏战略资金和长期工作保障会严重影响澳大利亚心血管研究人员的留任率。
背景
心血管疾病是澳大利亚的主要死亡原因。事实证明,对研究解决方案的投资可以带来健康并带来9.8倍的回报经济利益。但是,传统同行评审的资助成功率在下降,该行业面临着严峻挑战。在这里,我们旨在了解在COVID-19大流行之前澳大利亚的心血管劳动力面临的可感知挑战。
方法
我们使用了一项在线调查,该调查在2019年的6个月期间内分布在澳大利亚的心血管学会/理事会,大学和研究机构中,已完成548个回复。纳入标准包括居住在海外的澳大利亚居民或澳大利亚公民,以及心血管研究领域的当前或过去的学生或雇员。
结果
受访者的平均年龄为42±13岁,男性为47%,专职职位为85%,小组负责人或实验室负责人为40%。23%(23%)拥有永久性工作,而82%的全职工人每周定期工作40小时以上。68%(68%)的人表示,他们先前曾考虑离开心血管研究部门。如果他们的职位在未来几年内无法获得资金,那么惊人的91%的受访者将离开该行业。与具有博士学位和年龄相配的男性相比,女性不太可能担任实验室负责人,并认为自己有长期从事心血管研究的职业道路,而更多女性不确定未来的工作,并考虑离开该行业(全部p <0.05)。
结论
战略解决方案,例如职业途径和资金来源的多元化,以及从竞争文化向合作文化的转变,必须成为减少对政府资金依赖并让心血管研究人员蓬勃发展的重点。