Takahashi O, Rahman M, Fukui T "Japan's contribution to research on infectious disease" JAPANESE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 55 (4): 139-141 AUG 2002

[Eugene Garfield]

Tsuguya Fukui : fkts at kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp


TITLE    Japan's contribution to research on infectious disease
AUTHOR   Takahashi O, Rahman M, Fukui T
JOURNAL  JAPANESE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 55 (4): 139-141 AUG 2002

Document type: Article     Language: English     Cited References: 7
Times Cited: 3      Explanation

Abstract:
We explored the degree of Japan's contribution to research in the field of
infectious disease in the. last decade. Articles published from 1991-2000
in highly reputed journals on infectious disease were accessed through the
MEDLINE database. The number of articles having an affiliation with a
Japanese institution was counted in total and for the respective journals.
The proportions of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case-control/cohort
studies, and case reports among the articles affiliated with Japan were
also calculated, and were compared with the overall proportions of these
types of articles for all articles published in these journals. Japan's
contribution to research on infectious disease was 3.4% of the total
articles and ranked sixth among all countries. The recent trend in
contribution was negative, although not statistically significant (P =
0.19). RCTs in total articles published in these journals were 3.9%, which
proportion has been increasing significantly over time. On the other hand,
only one RCT (0.2%) was reported from Japan in the last decade. In
addition, the proportion of case-control/cohort studies (2.2%) was smaller
for articles from Japan than those from other countries. Compared with
those of other developed countries, Japan's contribution to research on
infectious disease has been unsatisfactory in the last decade. An
explanation for this phenomenon should be determined. and remedial measures
should be taken forthwith.

Addresses:
Fukui T, Kyoto Univ, Grad Sch Med, Dept Gen Med & Clin Epidemiol, Sakyo Ku,
Kawahara Cho 54, Kyoto 6068507, Japan
Kyoto Univ, Grad Sch Med, Dept Gen Med & Clin Epidemiol, Sakyo Ku, Kyoto
6068507, Japan

Publisher:
NATL INST INFECTIOUS DISEASES, C/O JPN J MED SCI BIOL, TOYAMA 1-23-1,
SHINJUKU-KU, TOKYO, 162, JAPAN

IDS Number:
610NJ

ISSN:
1344-6304