Objectives: To assess motivations, the practical organization and the funding of a research fellowship in the training curriculum of French urologists-in-training.
Materials and methods: An online questionnaire was sent to members of the AFUF and to participants of a research training seminar "Graines et Sol" organised by the AFU, between July and September 2013. Results are presented as the median (interquartile range).
Results: Sixty answers out of 115 research fellows (response rate 52%) were computed. Median age was 29 years (28-30) during the research year and male proportion 75%. The AFU grant was obtained by 57.4% of applicants, 56.4% for various grants and 47.6% for the research fellowship university grant. The annual gross amount was 29,870€ (22,710-30,195), without any significant difference between residency subdivisions. Financial supplements were obtained by being on-duty (26.2%), on-call (28.6%) and replacements (25%). The research fellowship year was done between 4th and 5th years of residency (53%), for a one-year length (96.7%) and in France (86.6%). Urologic cancerology was the thematic the most studied (60%). The research fellowship was done in view of an academic career (31.7%) or was done to wait for a post-residency position (20.8%). About a quarter was being proposed a chief-residency position before the beginning of the research year. During this year, 76.7% published. About 63% were interested in pursuing with a PhD.
Conclusion: This study confirmed the interest for a research fellowship by French urologists-in-training. Financial support thanks to grants facilitated the conduct of a research fellowship in the aim of an academic career for most of them.
Keywords: Année de recherche et scolarité; Deuxième et troisième cycle médical; Enseignement; Fellowships and scholarships; Internship and residency; Recherche; Research; Teaching; Urologie; Urology.
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