Aldrete JA, Wright AJ

Language: English
References: 10
Page: 144-147
PDF size: 54.50 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background and objective: “Free Papers” presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting have been considered the leading edge of research among the anaesthesia community. Methods: We attempted to determine the national origin of the first author for the abstracts of these papers over the years 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000. This characteristic was tabulated numerically and then the proportion of papers from certain regions of the world was estimated. Results: In 1970, of 103 papers 98 (95.1%) were from the United States of America (USA); by 1980 of 420 papers 393 (93.5%) came from the USA and in 1990 and 2000 only 875 (68.7%) and 716 (52.2) out of the 1,273 and 1,372 total presentations, in that order. European representation went from 0 in 1970 to 3.0% in 1980 and 21% and 27.3% in 1990 and 2000, respectively. Japan and Canada also rose except the latter declined in 2000. Asia, the Middle East and Latin America have recently began to be represented, too. Statistically significant differences were only noted between 1970 and 2000. Conclusions: Reasons for the decline in the presentation of free papers at the ASA meeting by American authors and the rise of European presenters include financial and organizational governmental changes resulting in administrative and philosophical modifications in the USA Academic Departments of Anaesthesiology.

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