Visibility of medical informatics regarding bibliometric indices and databases

[Eugene Garfield]

Visibility of medical informatics regarding bibliometric indices and databases

Author(s): Spreckelsen, C (Spreckelsen, Cord); Deserno, TM (Deserno, Thomas 
M.); Spitzer, K (Spitzer, Klaus)

Source: BMC MEDICAL INFORMATICS AND DECISION MAKING  Volume: 11  
Article Number: 24  DOI: 10.1186/1472-6947-11-24  Published: APR 15 2011  

Abstract: Background: The quantitative study of the publication output 
(bibliometrics) deeply influences how scientific work is perceived (bibliometric 
visibility). Recently, new bibliometric indices and databases have been 
established, which may change the visibility of disciplines, institutions and 
individuals. This study examines the effects of the new indices on the visibility 
of Medical Informatics. 
Methods: By objective criteria, three sets of journals are chosen, two 
representing Medical Informatics and a third addressing Internal Medicine as a 
benchmark. The availability of index data (index coverage) and the aggregate 
scores of these corpora are compared for journal-related (Journal impact 
factor, Eigenfactor metrics, SCImago journal rank) and author-related indices 
(Hirsch-index, Egghes G-index). Correlation analysis compares the dependence 
of author-related indices. 
Results: The bibliometric visibility depended on the research focus and the 
citation database: Scopus covers more journals relevant for Medical Informatics 
than ISI/Thomson Reuters. Journals focused on Medical Informatics' 
methodology were negatively affected by the Eigenfactor metrics, while the 
visibility profited from an interdisciplinary research focus. The correlation 
between Hirsch-indices computed on citation databases and the Internet was 
strong. 
Conclusions: The visibility of smaller technology-oriented disciplines like Medical 
Informatics is changed by the new bibliometric indices and databases possibly 
leading to suitably changed publication strategies. Freely accessible author-
related indices enable an easy and adequate individual assessment.

Language: English
Document Type: Article
KeyWords Plus: JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR; CITATION ANALYSIS; WEB SITES; 
PUBLICATION; PRINCIPLES; SCOPUS

Addresses: [Spreckelsen, C; Deserno, TM; Spitzer, K] Rhein Westfal TH 
Aachen, Inst Med Informat, Aachen, Germany
Reprint Address: Spreckelsen, C (reprint author), Rhein Westfal TH Aachen, 
Inst Med Informat, Aachen, Germany

E-mail Address: CSpreckelsen at mi.rwth-aachen.de
ISSN: 1472-6947
fulltext: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6947/11/24