Wilson J T, Brown R D, Kimura K K, Whelton A
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport.
J Clin Pharmacol. 1989 Aug;29(8):695-713. doi: 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1989.tb03404.x.
The need for clinical pharmacology in research and education, drug development, and health care delivery is well known. However, a current profile of those working in the field is not available. The ACCP authorized a survey of clinical pharmacologists to provide such a profile. Members of the ACCP or ASCPT were solicited by mail with a self-assessment questionnaire. A response rate of 37% was obtained. Demographic findings agree well with a previous study2 limited to those with the M.D. Our results reveal that most clinical pharmacologists are between 30-59 years of age, have an MD, PhD or PharmD degree; most of those with MDs list their primary specialty as internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, or anesthesiology. They affiliate with the respective departments (including pharmacology) in academia or hold positions in industry or government, but few are in clinical therapeutics per se. About 20% of those with only a MD or PharmD degree cite employment in health care delivery. However, a higher percentage of these respondents work in research and education rather than in drug development or health care delivery. For those with only a PhD, more work in drug development and research and education than in health care delivery. The highest proportion of respondents with any doctoral degree work in the Northeast. The average income is a function of rank, doctoral degree, specialty, department appointment, and type and location of employer. The profile of a typical clinical pharmacologist is presented. An analysis of clinical pharmacology manpower from several perspectives reveals a marked deficit, but the field itself is professionally and economically attractive. Lack of a well defined career track in academia and a poorly defined clinical role for MD clinical pharmacologists are proposed as reasons limiting entry of trainees. These and other results of the survey support an increased emphasis on training programs. Clinical pharmacologist involvement in health care delivery and drug development must be increased if the safe and effective use of new drugs is to be realized. Nine assessments and initiatives are formulated to accomplish this goal within the next decade.
临床药理学在研究与教育、药物研发及医疗保健服务中的必要性是众所周知的。然而，目前该领域从业者的概况尚无相关资料。美国临床药师协会（ACCP）授权开展了一项针对临床药理学家的调查，以获取这样一份概况。通过邮件向ACCP或美国临床药理与治疗学会（ASCPT）的成员发送了一份自我评估问卷，获得了37%的回复率。人口统计学调查结果与之前一项仅限于医学博士的研究结果非常吻合。我们的研究结果显示，大多数临床药理学家年龄在30至59岁之间，拥有医学博士、哲学博士或药学博士学位；大多数医学博士将其主要专业列为内科、儿科、精神病学或麻醉学。他们隶属于学术界的各个相关部门（包括药理学），或在行业或政府部门任职，但从事临床治疗学本身工作的人很少。仅有医学博士或药学博士学位的人中约20%称受雇于医疗保健服务行业。然而，这些受访者中从事研究与教育工作的比例高于从事药物研发或医疗保健服务工作的比例。仅有哲学博士学位的人从事药物研发以及研究与教育工作的比例高于从事医疗保健服务工作的比例。拥有任何博士学位的受访者中，比例最高的是在东北部工作。平均收入是职位、博士学位、专业、部门任命以及雇主类型和所在地的函数。文中呈现了典型临床药理学家的概况。从多个角度对临床药理学人力进行分析显示存在明显短缺，但该领域本身在专业和经济方面都颇具吸引力。学术界缺乏明确界定的职业发展路径以及医学博士临床药理学家的临床角色界定不清，被认为是限制学员进入该领域的原因。此次调查的这些及其他结果支持加大对培训项目的重视力度。如果要实现新药的安全有效使用，就必须增加临床药理学家参与医疗保健服务和药物研发的程度。为在未来十年内实现这一目标，制定了九项评估和举措。
