RESUMO
Background: The number of authors of scientific papers has increased significantly in the last decade. The increasing complexity of medical research but also vicious practices are possible causes of this trend. Aim: To analyze the number of authors and type of papers published in the Chilean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in the last three decades. Material and methods: A review of all manuscripts published between 1970 and 1999. The number of authors and the type of paper was registered. Results: Five hundred nineteen papers were reviewed. The mean number of authors per paper increased from 1.9 to 3 (p <0.001). Research reports decreased from 79 percent to 61 percent and the number of review articles and case reports increased. No multicentric work was published in the period. Conclusions: A significant increase in the number of authors per manuscript was observed in this review