Evaluating Scientific Research Barriers by Gender and Other Characteristics From the Perspective of Physiatrists in Turkey: A Multicenter Survey Study

Physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation must also put in tremendous effort and manage their time meticulously to contribute to scientific research (SR). Research requires knowledge, experience, and institutional support, such as financial incentives, technical facilities, and trained personnel. In this field, research productivity is increasingly important due to the rising prevalence of conditions such as age-related disability and chronic pain, which put pressure on the healthcare system and affect people's quality of life. Turkey's publication productivity in physical medicine and rehabilitation has also increased steadily in recent years, with a significant number of articles published between 2015 and 2020. However, gender disparities in academic leadership positions persist in this field as well, with women lagging behind men in the number of scientific publications. While bibliometric studies are useful for assessing the current state of scientific performance, survey studies are necessary to identify obstacles that deter researchers and increase research productivity. Unfortunately, few studies have used this approach in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and no such study has been conducted in Turkey.