Merve Işık AYDIN, Hande Gülhan USLU, Özgün AFŞAR
Anatolian Current Medical Journal - 2026;8(5):977-985
Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the conversion rate of postgraduate theses in the field of endodontics in Turkiye into scientific publications and to compare the research productivity between doctorate and specialization training programs. Methods: A total of 652 postgraduate endodontic theses completed between 2015 and 2024 were reviewed retrospectively. The publication status, publication time frame, study type, and journal indexing status in which the theses were published were evaluated. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were used for the statistical analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 652 theses evaluated, 44.5% (n=290) were converted into scientific publications. No significant difference was found between doctorate and specialization theses regarding publication rates or journal indexing (p>0.05). Most publications (93.1%) occurred within the first five years after thesis completion. Academic career status significantly influenced publication likelihood; associate professors/professors were 8.26 times more likely to publish than non-academics. Furthermore, clinical studies were significantly more likely to be published in SCIE-indexed journals compared to observational studies (OR=17.91). Female researchers showed a higher probability of publishing in field-specific and SCIE-indexed journals compared to male researchers (p<0.05). Conclusion: In postgraduate education, research productivity is more influenced by individual and methodological factors than by the type of education. Supporting early publication strategies and academic career development may contribute to improving scientific output.
