Researchers' Pyramid-trick or treat

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, public opinion has returned to a great deal of interest in clinical research and the key role of researchers in periods of health emergency If on the one hand the emergency has reawakened confidence in the work of researchers in the population, on the other it has revealed leaks in the system that insiders have known for a long time Italian research has always been characterized by great contradictions While Italy boasts the most prestigious researchers worldwide, it is highly penalized by low investments and the inability to provide a stable career path to researchers and support staff A first important step to at least partially solve the problem was the ministerial reform known as ' Researchers' pyramid', an initiative that has been the subject of strong contradictions Methods: In September 2019, the Italian Group of Data Manager shared an online survey, meant for the italian biomedical research personnel, to investigate opinions about the reform Results: The questionnaire was completed by 147 respondents, the majority being employed at public IRCCS/IZP (n=78, 53 1%) or public Hospitals/University/Local Health Company (n=50, 34 0%) The respondent's profession was not included in those listed in the Pyramid in the minority of cases (n=28, 19%), while for the greater part it corresponded to a profession included in the 'Clinical Research Assistant' (n=21, 55 1%) and 'Clinical Researcher' categories (n=38, 25 9%) Over half of respondents declared to be optimistic regarding the actual benefit of the reform for employment stability Over half (63 4%) of the 'not optimistic respondents' considers the Pyramid a false path towards stabilization Concerns were also expressed in relation to the evaluation criteria during the ten-year period, considered by a third of the interviewed to be too exclusive and often not very suitable Many individuals (41 5%) report the poor valorization of personnel and much apprehension was recorded relating to the possibility of extending the reform to other institutes Conclusions: The reform overall seems like an important opportunity for entry level or inexperienced personnel, a watered-down compromise for expert professionals But above all: only IRCCS are worthy of doing research The fear conveyed from the great majority of the interviewed is that the pyramid is only a trick When the emergency is over, will institutions finally begin to consider research a real job

Ähnliche Arbeiten