Calo WA, et al. 2010. Assessing the Scientific Research Productivity of Puerto Rican Cancer Researchers: Bibliometric Analysis from the Science Citation Index. PUERTO RICO HEALTH SCIENCES JOURNAL 29 (3): 250-255

[Eugene Garfield]

Calo, WA; Suarez-Balseiro, C; Suarez, E; Soto-Salgado, M; Santiago-Rodriguez, 
EJ; Ortiz, AP. 2010. Assessing the Scientific Research Productivity of Puerto 
Rican Cancer Researchers: Bibliometric Analysis from the Science Citation 
Index. PUERTO RICO HEALTH SCIENCES JOURNAL 29 (3): 250-255, Sp. Iss. SI.

Author Full Name(s): Calo, William A.; Suarez-Balseiro, Carlos; Suarez, Erick; 
Soto-Salgado, Marievelisse; Santiago-Rodriguez, Eduardo J.; Ortiz, Ana P.

Language: English
Document Type: Article
Author Keywords: Science Citation Index; Bibliometric analysis; Cancer 
research; Puerto Rico

KeyWords Plus: EUROPEAN-UNION; IMPACT; COLLABORATION; PUBLICATIONS; 
COOPERATION; AUTHORSHIP; MORTALITY; PATTERNS; BRAZIL; WORLD

Abstract: Objective: The analysis of cancer scientific production in Puerto Rico 
is largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to characterize trends in 
cancer-related research publications by authors affiliated to Puerto Rican 
institutions in recent decades.
Methods: Manuscripts were retrieved from the Science Citation Index (SCI) 
database from 1982 to 2009. Search criterions were that the author's affiliation 
field contained some institution located in Puerto Rico and that the manuscripts 
were related to cancer research (according to keywords from the National 
Cancer Institute' cancer definition). Indexes measured in our analysis included 
number and type of manuscript, scientific collaboration, author's affiliation, and 
journal visibility. All the analyses were conducted using Pro Cite for bibliographic 
information management and STATA and SEER Joinpoint for the statistical 
inquiry.
Results: From 1982-2009, cancer-related papers authored by scientists located 
in Puerto Rico came to 451. Over the last three decades the scientific 
production underwent significant growth (APC = 6.4%, p<0.05) with the 
highest peak between 2000 and 2009 (61.4% of all articles). Universities are 
the local institutional sector with the highest number of authors (81.4%), and 
the University of Puerto Rico is the most active center in this regard (68.5%). 
Forty-three percent of the manuscripts (n=195) were published in 20 journals 
from which 14 are observed to have high visibility when compared to similar 
thematic journals.
Conclusions: Cancer-scientific production in Puerto Rico underwent constant 
growth during the last three decades. A complete understanding of citing, 
publishing, and collaboration patterns in Puerto Rico is critical to researchers, 
policy makers, and health-care professionals in order to make informed decisions about cancer research priorities. [PR Health Sci J 2010;3:250-255]

Addresses: [Calo, William A.; Soto-Salgado, Marievelisse] Univ Puerto Rico, 
Puerto Rico Canc Ctr, San Juan, PR 00927 USA; [Suarez-Balseiro, Carlos] Univ 
Puerto Rico, Grad Sch Informat Sci & Technol, Observ Informat Related Studies, 
San Juan, PR 00927 USA; [Suarez, Erick; Santiago-Rodriguez, Eduardo J.; Ortiz, 
Ana P.] Univ Puerto Rico, Grad Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Biostat & Epidemiol, San 
Juan, PR 00927 USA; [Ortiz, Ana P.] Univ Puerto Rico, Ctr Comprehens Canc, 
Canc Control & Populat Sci Program, San Juan, PR 00927 USA

Reprint Address: Ortiz, AP, Univ Puerto Rico, Ctr Comprehens Canc, Canc 
Control & Populat Sci Program, PMB 711,89 De Diego Ave,Suite 105, San Juan, 
PR 00927 USA.

E-mail Address: ana.ortiz7 at upr.edu
ISSN: 0738-0658
fulltext: http://prhsj.rcm.upr.edu/index.php/prhsj/article/view/459