Outcomes of Foundation-supported research

This is part two of a special four-part series. To access the other parts, follow the links below:

+ Part 1: Examining the health of family medicine research
+ Part 3: TAFP Foundation-based support for research in Texas
+ Part 4: Supporting the future development of research in Texas

Of the 58 studies funded by the TAFP Foundation, 47 were completed by 2006 and can be evaluated in terms of their outcomes. Did these completed studies lead to presentations at national conferences or publications? Did they serve as pilot studies for larger, grant-supported research?

Recent Outcomes

Of the 21 studies completed between 2002 and 2006, information about outcomes was provided for 15 studies. Table 2 summarizes the numbers of conference, manuscript and grant submissions resulting from these 15 studies. Overall, there were a total of 42 submissions from 13 studies with almost half being manuscripts submitted for publication. The last column displays the mean and range of submissions over all 15 completed studies reporting. Overall, the 15 studies produced an average of 2.8 submissions.

Not every submission leads to a presentation, publication or funded grant. Table 3 presents the results of these submissions. Overall, there were 33 outcomes from 12 studies. Again, almost half of the outcomes were publications. The final column displays the mean and range of outcomes across all 15 completed studies. The 15 studies produced an average of 2.2 outcomes.

In addition to the 42 submissions reported above, eight researchers say they are planning to make 18 more submissions based on these studies, nine of which are manuscripts. Taken together then, these 15 completed studies have or will generate a total 60 submissions, an average of four submissions per study. Thus, 60 percent of the studies will produce at least one conference submission, 14 will result in at least one manuscript, and seven will lead to at least one grant application. Only one study will not result in at least one submission.

Comparison With Older Studies

Comparing these results with those of 26 studies completed prior to 2002, Table 4 summarizes the outcomes. Fewer recently-completed studies (53 percent versus 63 percent) produced fewer presentations (13 versus 18). However, more recent studies (60 percent versus 25 percent) yielded more publications (15 versus seven). There was little difference in funded grants (five versus four) or the number of studies yielding them (20 percent versus 25 percent). Overall, the more recently-completed studies resulted in more outcomes, particularly publications (2.2 versus 1.81 outcomes, on average).

Implications

The right-hand columns of Tables 2 and 3 reveal the current yield for this grant support. With a maximum of $5,000 given per study, the 15 studies completed between 2002 and 2006 cost the Foundation less than $75,000. For that $75,000, the discipline received 13 conference presentations and 15 publications. In addition, these studies resulted in five funded grants for a total of $659,000 in funding, a nine-fold return on investment! This analysis suggests a high yield in outcomes for the modest financial support offered by the Foundation.