The present crisis of the publication activity in anesthesia research in Japan and its countermeasure

: In Japan, a reduction in the number of qualified anesthesiologists has become apparent particularly in local university hospitals since the introduction of a new postgraduate clinical training system in 2004. In addition, our younger generation seems to desire the qualification as an anesthesiologists but not the research degree of Doctor of Medicine. As a consequence of high clinical workload and a relative lack of interest in research degrees, the publication of anesthesia research papers from Japan is progressively declining. In addition, the issue of data fabrication in randomized controlled clinical trials by Fujii had a negative impact on the motivation within our specialty to perform research and may consequently decrease research publications in Japan. If we do not engage in anesthesia research activities, it is really possible that our colleagues and patients may view us simply as technicians in near future. In the extreme case a medical degree may no longer be required for anesthesiologists. However, once we were in that kind of position and situation the restoration would be difficult. To take countermeasure against this decline in anesthesia research activity, I would like to present proposals as follows. Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA) and each educational institution should desperately emdeavour to encourage anesthesiologists to enter graduate school of medicine, develop environment for continuation in employment of female anesthetists during pregnancy and parenting and to perform planning and implementation of JSA initiated research projects educating young anesthesiologist for English article writing and medical ethics. Moreover, each anesthesiologist must deeply recognize the present crisis of anesthesia research activity in Japan, and then do what should be done now.