Aproximación bibliométrica a la producción científica reumatológica española durante el período 1997–2006A (Bibliometric approach to the Spanish scientific production on rheumatology during the 1997-2006 period)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bibliometric studies have shown their usefulness in the evaluation of science. This methodology was adopted for the analysis of Spanish rheumatologic scientific production during 1997-2006. METHODS: Search phrases were constructed for databases (PubMed, Science Citation Index (SCI), Índice Médico Español (IME)). The analysis was based on the results of SCI with bibliometric indicators for scientific production, collaboration, type of document, times cited and the measure of impact factor (FI). RESULTS: The scientific production in Spanish rheumatology recovered 602 documents in PubMed, 1073 in ISI, 627 in IME. The mapping of scientific productivity is similar to other studies (Madrid, Cataluña, Galicia). The "items citables" (citable items, articles and reviews) raised 54 to 98 and the international collaboration raised 3 to 33 documents (1997-2006). The FI for all documents in 1997-2001 was=6,79±0,54 and during 2002-2006=9,60±1,24. CONCLUSIONS: This confirms an upward trend in Spanish scientific production in rheumatology with regard to previous studies