ABS&Comment : Kolbitsch, National publication output in medical research

[Gretchen Whitney]

Ch. Kolbitsch, MD : christian.kolbitsch at uibk.ac.at

TITLE   :       National publication output in medical research
AUTHOR  Kolbitsch C, Balogh D, Hauffe H, Lockinger A, Benzer A
JOURNAL  ANASTHESIOLOGIE INTENSIVMEDIZIN NOTFALLMEDIZIN SCHMERZTHERAPIE
                                                   34: (4) 214-217 APR 1999

 Document type: Article    Language: German    Cited References: 5    Times
Cited: 0

Abstract: Objective: Both the total number of publications and the number
of publications in high-ranking journals determine a country's reputation
in scientific research. A predominance of national authors in a country's
international high-ranking journals has occasionally been presumed. We
therefore analysed the publication output of various countries and the
proportion of national authors in international high-ranking journals.
Methods: The database EMBASE(R) (Excerpta Medical by means of the online
service Dialog(R) was used to analyse the national publication output of
various countries during the years 1986 to 1990 and 1991 to 1995 and the
proportion of national authors in The Lancet and The New England journal
of Medicine (NEJM.). Results: American and British publications played the
leading roles in the total number of medical publications from 1986 to
1990 (35.6 % and 8.8 %, respectively) and also from 1991 to 1995 (34.3 %
and 9.1 %, respectively). A more detailed analysis revealed an
unexpectedly high national publication output (publications per million
inhabitants) of smaller countries, which exceeded that of larger nations
during both periods studied (national publication output 1986-90 vs.
1991-95: Israel: (3386 vs. 3447), Sweden: (3303 vs. 3620), Switzerland:
(2930 vs. 3722), Denmark: (2884 vs. 3167), UK: (2186 vs. 2825), USA: (2042
vs. 2388)). Furthermore, the proportion of national authors during both
periods (1986-90 vs. 1991-95) studied was 41.8% vs. 34.1 % in the case of
The Lancet and 77.9 % vs. 69.5 % in the case of The New England journal of
Medicine. Conclusions:The present study found an unexpectedly high
national publication output of smaller countries as well as a clearly
disproportionate number of published articles from national authors in The
Lancet and the NEJM during the years 1986 to 1990 and 1991 to 1995.

Author Keywords:
publication frequency, publication output, national publication bias

KeyWords Plus:
BIAS

Addresses:
Kolbitsch C, Univ Innsbruck Hosp, Dept Anesthesia, Anichstr 35, A-6020
Innsbruck, Austria.
Innsbruck Univ Lib, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.

Publisher:
GEORG THIEME VERLAG, STUTTGART

IDS Number:
195PB

ISSN:
0939-2661

Copyright © 1999 Institute for Scientific Information, Reprinted with
permission
Please visit their website at www.isinet.com

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comment:
A bibliometric analysis by these authors covering 1986-90 using EMBASE via
Dialog, shows that NEJM and Lancet were regarded as "national" journals to
the American and British authors who dominated their content.  However, in
the period 1991-95 a significant change was noted in the participation of
authors outside the USA and UK who consider these journals international.

"The establishment of English as the dominant language of science... could
be partially responsible."  A significant change of about 8% is reported.
Statistical data on over 50 countries is provided.  These data can also be
obtained directly from the not too well known ISI database called Journal
Performance Indicators.

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