Gjersvik, P; Nylenna, M; Jemec, GBE; Haraldstad, AM. 2010. Dermatologic research in the Nordic countries 1989-2008-a bibliometric study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 49 (11): 1276-1281

[Eugene Garfield]

Gjersvik, P; Nylenna, M; Jemec, GBE; Haraldstad, AM. 2010. Dermatologic 
research in the Nordic countries 1989-2008-a bibliometric study. 
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 49 (11): 1276-1281.

Author Full Name(s): Gjersvik, Petter; Nylenna, Magne; Jemec, Gregor B. E.; 
Haraldstad, Anne-Marie

Language: English
Document Type: Article
KeyWords Plus: EUROPE

Abstract: Background
Bibliometric methods, based on the count of articles published in scientific 
journals, are increasingly used to evaluate scientific productivity. Bibliometric 
studies may identify factors that promote or inhibit research performance. We 
set out to analyze dermatologic research activity in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, 
and Norway using bibliometric methods.
Methods
We performed repetitive searches on Medline, using the PubMed interface, for 
the period 1989-2008. Dermatologic articles were defined as all articles in 
dermatologic journals plus articles in nondermatologic journals in which the 
address of first author included an institution of dermatology. Articles were 
allocated to the country of first author's address.
Results
The number of dermatologic articles from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and 
Norway was 1896 (214 per million inhabitants), 1502 (281), 1017 (196), and 
249 (55), respectively. Dermatologic articles represented 1.4%, 2.3%, 1.6%, 
and 0.6% of each country's total number of Medline articles in English over the 
same period. Similar patterns were found in relation to gross domestic product, 
number of dermatologists, and number of medical schools. After 2000, the 
yearly number of dermatologic articles from Denmark increased and that from 
Finland decreased, whereas the numbers from Sweden and Norway remained 
relatively stable.
Conclusions
Despite similarities in social and economic conditions in Sweden, Denmark, 
Finland, and Norway, there are great differences in dermatologic research 
activity in the four countries, with Denmark performing best and Norway 
poorest. Historical and cultural factors may partly explain these differences.

Addresses: [Gjersvik, Petter] Oslo Univ Hosp, Rikshosp, Dept Dermatol, N-0027 
Oslo, Norway; [Gjersvik, Petter; Nylenna, Magne] Univ Oslo, Oslo, Norway; 
[Nylenna, Magne] Norwegian Knowledge Ctr Hlth Serv, Norwegian Elect Hlth Lib, 
Oslo, Norway; [Nylenna, Magne] Norwegian Univ Sci & Technol, N-7034 
Trondheim, Norway; [Jemec, Gregor B. E.] Roskilde Hosp, Dept Dermatol, 
Roskilde, Denmark; [Jemec, Gregor B. E.] Univ Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 
Denmark; [Haraldstad, Anne-Marie] Univ Oslo Lib, Lib Med & Hlth Sci, Oslo, 
Norway

Reprint Address: Gjersvik, P, Oslo Univ Hosp, Rikshosp, Dept Dermatol, 
Sognsvannsveien 20, N-0027 Oslo, Norway.

E-mail Address: petter.gjersvik at rikshospitalet.no
ISSN: 0011-9059
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2010.04508.x
fulltext: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-
4632.2010.04508.x/abstract