Benamer HTS, Bakoush O, "Arab nations lagging behind other Middle Eastern Countries in biomedical research: a comparative study" BMC Medical Res Methodology Vol9, Article 26, April 2009

[Eugene Garfield]

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URL: url: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/9/26

E-mail Addresses: benamer at doctors.org.uk, omran.bakoush at med.lu.se

TITLE : Arab nations lagging behind other Middle Eastern countries in 
biomedical research: a comparative study 

Author(s): Benamer HTS (Benamer, Hani T. S.)2, Bakoush O (Bakoush, Omran)1

Source: BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY    Volume: 9  Article Number: 
26    Published: APR 17 2009    

Times Cited: 0     References: 16     Citation Map      

Abstract: Background: Analysis of biomedical research and publications in a 
country or group of countries is used to monitor research progress and 
trends. This study aims to assess the performance of biomedical research in 
the Arab world during 2001-2005 and to compare it with other Middle Eastern 
non-Arab countries. 

Methods: PubMed and Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-expanded) were 
searched systematically for the original biomedical research publications 
and their citation frequencies of 16 Arab nations and three non-Arab Middle 
Eastern countries (Iran, Israel and Turkey), all of which are classified as 
middle or high income countries.

Results: The 16 Arab countries together have 5775 and 14,374 original 
research articles listed by PubMed and SCI-expanded, respectively, 
significantly less (p < 0.001) than the other three Middle Eastern 
countries (25,643 and 49,110). The Arab countries also scored less when the 
data were normalized to population, gross domestic product (GDP), and 
GDP/capita. The publications from the Arab countries also have a 
significantly lower (p < 0.001) citation frequency.

Conclusion: The Arab world is producing fewer biomedical publications of 
lower quality than other Middle Eastern countries. Studies are needed to 
clarify the causes and to propose strategies to improve the biomedical 
research status in Arab countries.

Document Type: Article  
Language: English  

Reprint Address: Bakoush, O (reprint author), Lund Univ, Dept Nephrol, S-
22101 Lund, Sweden  

Addresses: 
1. Lund Univ, Dept Nephrol, S-22101 Lund, Sweden 
2. New Cross Hosp, Dept Neurol, Wolverhampton, W Midlands England  

E-mail Addresses: benamer at doctors.org.uk, omran.bakoush at med.lu.se

Publisher: BIOMED CENTRAL LTD, CURRENT SCIENCE GROUP, MIDDLESEX HOUSE, 34-
42 CLEVELAND ST, LONDON W1T 4LB, ENGLAND  

IDS Number: 442MU  
ISSN: 1471-2288  
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-9-26  

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