Contra-réplica a "Visibilidad de los institutos de investigación sanitaria a través de la base de datos Web of Science" / Rejoinder to "Visibility of healthcare research institutes through the Web of Science database"

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Visibilidad de los institutos de investigación sanitaria a través de la base de datos Web of Science / Visibility of healthcare research institutes through the Web of Science database

Objetivos. La importancia estratégica de los institutos de investigación sanitaria (IIS) en la investigación en ciencias de la salud en España motiva este análisis sobre la viabilidad de estudiar su contribución a la producción científica española a través de su presencia como institución firmante en las publicaciones. Material y métodos. Se identifica la producción de los IIS en la base de datos Web of Science comparando su producción observada (el instituto figura de forma explícita en el lugar de trabajo de los autores) y potencial (estimada en función de los hospitales vinculados). Resultados y conclusiones. Los estudios basados en publicaciones científicas no permiten identificar de forma fiable la contribución de los IIS, ya que su producción observada es muy inferior a la potencial, aunque su visibilidad tiende a aumentar a lo largo del tiempo. Se señala el interés de que los miembros de los IIS incluyan al instituto entre sus direcciones de trabajo para aumentar la visibilidad de estas estructuras y posibilitar estudios orientados a valorar su actividad en el contexto nacional e internacional (AU)

Objectives. The strategic importance of healthcare research institutes (HRIs) in health sciences research in Spain has motivated this analysis of the feasibility of studing their contribution to the Spanish scientific output through their presence as a signatory institution in the publications. Material and methods. We identified the output of the HRIs in the Web of Science database, comparing their observed output (the institutes are explicitly listed in the authors’ workplace) and potential output (estimated based on the linked hospitals). Results and conclusions. The studies based on scientific publications do not help us reliably identify the contribution of the HRIs because their observed production is much lower than the potential output, although their visibility tends to increase over time. This article highlights the importance of HRI members including the institute among their work addresses to increase the visibility of these organisations and to facilitate studies aimed at assessing their activity in the national and international context (AU)

Visibility of healthcare research institutes through the Web of Science database. / Visibilidad de los institutos de investigación sanitaria a través de la base de datos Web of Science.

OBJECTIVES: The strategic importance of healthcare research institutes (HRIs) in health sciences research in Spain has motivated this analysis of the feasibility of studing their contribution to the Spanish scientific output through their presence as a signatory institution in the publications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We identified the output of the HRIs in the Web of Science database, comparing their observed output (the institutes are explicitly listed in the authors' workplace) and potential output (estimated based on the linked hospitals). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The studies based on scientific publications do not help us reliably identify the contribution of the HRIs because their observed production is much lower than the potential output, although their visibility tends to increase over time. This article highlights the importance of HRI members including the institute among their work addresses to increase the visibility of these organisations and to facilitate studies aimed at assessing their activity in the national and international context.

[The internationalization of scientific production in the fields of radiology and neuroimaging in Spain (1996-2003)]. / Internacionalización de la producción científica de España en radiología y neuroimagen (1996-2003).

The situation of Research in radiology in Spain is analysed by examining the number of publications by Spanish authors in main stream international journals. The scientific production of Spanish researchers in journals included in the Science Citation Index (SCI) under the headings "Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Medical Imaging" and "Neuroimaging" during the years 1996-2003. During this period the scientific production in these fields comprised 1,562 documents (3.5% of the total production for Spanish clinical medicine); scientific production in these fields increased by 40% in this period in comparison to 24% for all clinical medicine. The bulk of the production was concentrated in the autonomous communities of Catalonia (35%), Madrid (28%), and Valencia (10%). The autonomous communities of Navarra and Cantabria had a high relative production after the results were adjusted for population. The healthcare sector is the most active, with the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, and the Hospital Vall d'Hebron being outstanding in that they not only lead the country in the number of publications but also publish more in journals with high impact factors. Among centers other than hospitals, the Center for Research in Energy, the Environment, and Technologies (CIEMAT) and the Medical School of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid are the most important. A high degree of collaboration is evident: 68% of the documents were produced by more than one institution, foreign centers were involved in 20%, and the documents were signed by an average of six authors. Conclusions. In summary, the data show that Spanish radiological research is becomin increasingly international, although this process is still in the initial stage, with the percentage of documents published in the most prestigious journals for this specialty being lower than in other disciplines. The relative activity and production of Spain is slightly below the average of the European Union, but the country shows a rising trend for both production and impact.

Internacionalización de la producción científica de España en Radiología y Neuroimagen (1996-2003) / The Internationalization of scientific production in the fields of radiology and neuroimaging in Spain (1996-2003)

Se desea analizar la situación de la investigación en Radiología en España a través de las publicaciones de autores españoles en revistas de amplia difusión internacional. Se analiza la producción científica de España en revistas recogidas por la base de datos Science Citation Index (SCI) en los temas de Radiología, Medicina Nuclear y de la Imagen y «Neuroimagen» durante los años 1996-2003. Durante dicho período la producción ascendió a 1.562 documentos (3,5% de la Medicina Clínica española), y experimentó un incremento superior al mostrado por el total del país (40% frente al 24%). Se observa una concentración de la producción en las comunidades de Cataluña (35%), Madrid (28%) y Comunidad Valenciana (10%). Al relativizar la producción según la población, destacan las comunidades de Navarra y Cantabria con una alta producción relativa. El sector sanitario es el más activo, destacando el Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, el Hospital Clínic de Barcelona y la Ciutat Sanitaria Vall D'Hebrón de Barcelona, que no sólo tienen la mayor producción sino que además publican en revistas de más factor de impacto que el promedio del país. Entre los centros no hospitalarios destacan el Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas y la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Se observa una alta actividad en colaboración: 68% de los documentos cuentan con más de 1 centro, en el 20% participa algún centro extranjero, y los documentos están firmados por una media de 6 autores. Los datos señalan que la Radiología española está experimentando una creciente internacionalización, que sin embargo está todavía en una fase inicial, siendo el porcentaje de documentos publicados en las revistas más prestigiosas de la especialidad inferior al observado en otras disciplinas. La actividad e impacto relativos de España en el área están todavía ligeramente por debajo de los correspondientes al promedio de la UE, pero el país muestra una tendencia ascendente en su producción e impacto

The situation of Research in radiology in Spain is analysed by examining the number of publications by Spanish authors in main stream international journals. The scientific production of Spanish researchers in journals included in the Science Citation Index (SCI) under the headings «Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Medical Imaging» and «Neuroimaging» during the years 1996-2003. During this period the scientific production in these fields comprised 1,562 documents (3.5% of the total production for Spanish clinical medicine); scientific production in these fields increased by 40% in this period in comparison to 24% for all clinical medicine. The bulk of the production was concentrated in the autonomous communities of Catalonia (35%), Madrid (28%), and Valencia (10%). The autonomous communities of Navarra and Cantabria had a high relative production after the results were adjusted for population. The healthcare sector is the most active, with the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, and the Hospital Vall d'Hebron being outstanding in that they not only lead the country in the number of publications but also publish more in journals with high impact factors. Among centers other than hospitals, the Center for Research in Energy, the Environment, and Technologies (CIEMAT) and the Medical School of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid are the most important. A high degree of collaboration is evident: 68% of the documents were produced by more than one institution, foreign centers were involved in 20%, and the documents were signed by an average of six authors. Conclusions. In summary, the data show that Spanish radiological research is becomin increasingly international, although this process is still in the initial stage, with the percentage of documents published in the most prestigious journals for this specialty being lower than in other disciplines. The relative activity and production of Spain is slightly below the average of the European Union, but the country shows a rising trend for both production and impact

[Spanish scientific production in the cardiovascular area through Science Citation Index (1990-1996)]. / La producción científica española en el área cardiovascular a través del Science Citation Index (1990-1996).

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: A bibliometric analysis of the Spanish scientific production in the Cardiovascular research area constitutes a useful approach to the study of the scientific activity conducted in the field. The most relevant aspects of the research and their evolution over time are analysed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Publications covered by the Science Citation Index database under the heading "cardiovascular system" during the years 1990-1996 and signed by at least one Spanish address were studied. The distribution of the scientific production by geographic areas and institutional sectors was analysed and the most productive centers were identified. RESULTS: During these years, the scientific production in Cardiovascular research showed a growing rate of 83%, slightly lower than that of Biomedicine in Spain. A total of 1,434 documents were analysed (3% of the biomedical production), with 24% of meeting-abstracts. Although the production was concentrated in Madrid (33%) and Cataluña (30%), Cantabria and Navarra emerged when the values were normalised according to either R&D expenditures or population data. The most productive institutional sectors were Hospitals (86%) and Universities (22%). The most productive centres were identified, as well as their growth rate, their activity index and the average impact factor of the journals used. More than 50% of the documents were performed in collaboration among different centres. International collaboration showed an upward trend (from 16% to 21%). CONCLUSIONS: Spanish Cardiovascular research showed an increasing international visibility over the studied period, as shown by the growing number of publications in the Science Citation Index database, the up-rising trend towards high-impact-factor journals, and the ever-growing collaboration of Spanish authors with foreign partners.

[Evaluation of the scientific activity through bibliometric indices]. / Evaluación de la actividad científica a través de indicadores bibliométricos.

The scope of bibliometric studies is the treatment and quantitative analysis of scientific publications. They belong to the so-called "social studies of science", and science policy constitutes one of its main applied fields. These studies efficiently complement the opinions and judgements of experts, thus providing objective and useful tools for evaluating the results of scientific activity. Nevertheless, given the impact that these evaluations have on the assignment of funding for research and even on the professional career of investigators, it becomes essential to know in detail the characteristics of bibliometric indicators and the limitations of their use. The Science Citation Index database is one of the most employed. In the case of biomedical research it is useful to analyze the most internationally visible scientific production, since it satisfactorily covers biomedical journals; however, clinical research with local interest published in Spanish journals is not included in that database. Widely employed bibliometric indicators are those measuring scientific activity through the number of publications, those based on the citations received by published studies and, in between them, the impact of journals. The impact factor is an indicator very used in bibliometric studies; though occasionally a high impact factor is assumed to reflect high quality, this indicator specifically measures visibility and diffusion of the works published by these journals rather than their scientific quality.

[Scientific activity of the most productive Spanish research teams in pharmacology and pharmacy during the period 1986-1993 as covered by the Science Citation Index (SCI)]. / Actividad científica de los grupos españoles más productivos en farmacología y farmacia durante el período 1986-1993 a través del Science Citation Index (SCI).

BACKGROUND: Bibliometric analyses at the research team level in the pharmacology and pharmacy (F&F) subfield allow in-depth analysis of the findings obtained at higher aggregation levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Publications of Spanish authors in pharmacological journals covered by the Science Citation Index (SCI) are studied and the most productive Spanish teams during 1986-1989 and 1990-1993 are identified through in-house programmes based on co-authorship analysis. Team composition is defined and team size, scientific output, productivity, expected impact factor and collaboration pattern of the most productive teams are analysed as well as its evolution over time. RESULTS: The observed annual increasing rate in the number of publications and authors in the field (11%) was similar to that of the number of researchers in the Spanish scientific system (8%). The number of highly productive teams doubled from the first to the second period (28 and 61 teams, respectively). The average team size was 8 researchers, showing an average scientific output of 3 documents/year and an average, productivity of 1.7 publications per author and team in each period. Over the years, an increase in the expected impact factor (EIF) of the publication journals and significant changes in the team composition were observed. A total of 13 stable teams were identified, with a greater size and output than the rest of the groups, and showing an upward trend in their expected impact factor and international collaboration rate. Stable teams did not show the negative correlation between team size and productivity observed for the total of the highly productive teams. CONCLUSIONS: The F&F subfield is in a very dynamic stage, with a great increase in the number of researchers, starting of new teams and consolidation of others. A trend was observed towards the concentration of activity in the most productive teams, that are the most visible internationally both in number of publications in the SCI and in the impact factor of the publication journals.

[Spanish scientific production in biomedicine and health sciences during the period 1990-1993 (Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index) and comparison to period 1986-1989]. / Producción científica española en biomedicina y ciencias de la salud durante el período 1990-1993 (Science Citation Index y Social Science Citation Index) y comparación con el período 1986-1989.

BACKGROUND: In 1993 a first study on the scientific production of Spain in 1986-1989 on Biomedicine and Health Sciences, through the Science Citation Index (SCI) was published. The analysis attained the level of centres, with special emphasis in those related to the Health Care System. This paper analyses the period 1990-1993, offers a wider coverage including the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) database, and compares both time periods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Documents indexed by SCI and SSCI, CD-ROM version, with at least one Spanish address, published in biomedical and medical journals during the years 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, have been studied. Quantitative and qualitative bibliometric indicators for the analysis by subject matter, geographic distribution, institutional sector and centre of origin have been used. Global data were also analysed according to economic and human resources. RESULTS: A total of 21,434 documents were studied, of which 67.9% were journal articles. The highest contributors were Universities (48.8% of the documents) and Hospitals (45.3%). The autonomous communities of Madrid (31.9%) and Catalonia (26.9%) concentrate more than half the production-developed principally by hospitals-followed by Andalucía (11.7%) and C. Valenciana (7.8%). The most active disciplines were biochemistry/molecular biology (13%), neurosciences/neurology (8.4%), pharmacology/pharmacy (8.4%) and medicine, general/internal (7.9%). Comparing the results with period 1986-1989, some of the differences observed could be explained by the fact of MEDICINA CLINICA being included in SCI since 1992. An increase in the number of citable items (72.9%), number of journals used (from 1,086 to 1,346) and international cooperation rate (13.5% to 18.3%) was detected. The institutional sectors with the highest growth rate were Hospitals (92.9%) and Consejo Superior de investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) (119.3%). Scientific production and visibility of publications (measured as impact factor of journals used) grew in most disciplines, being the quantitative increase greater in cancer/oncology, gastroenterology/hepatology, genetics/heredity and cardiovascular system. No substantial changes as to geographic distribution of documents or most active centres were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Spanish scientific activity grew steadily every year and its visibility improved, being the Health sector one of the main actors. When comparing both four-year period. Spain moved up from the seventh to the sixth position in the ranking of EU countries according to its scientific output in biomedicine and health sciences.

[Spanish research in international pharmacy and pharmacology journals from 1980 to 1989]. / La investigación española en revistas internacionales de farmacia y farmacología durante el período 1980-1989.

BACKGROUND: During the last years, the usefulness and validity of bibliometric analyses in complementing other types of indicators has been put forward. Especially interesting is the performance of this type of studies in the pharmacological area, due to the important medical and economic repercusions of the research in this field. METHODS: Documents of Spanish authors published in international pharmacological journals covered by the database Science Citation Index (1980-1989) were downloaded. Geographical and institutional distribution of the production, main publication journals and the basic or applied character of the research are some of the parameters analysed. The Expected Impact Factor (FIE) is used as an indicator of the potential influence of the research on the international scientific community. RESULTS: An exponential growth was detected for the number of Spanish publications in international journals of Pharmacy & Pharmacology during the period of 1980-1989. Universities were the most productive institutions, followed by hospitals, the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and industry, with only a small activity from private centers. Geographical distribution of production was very irregular, with Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia as the main productive cities. The increase in productivity was associated with a decrease over time in the FIE, although relatively high FIE journals were mainly used. Research in Pharmacy & Pharmacology showed as a mainly basic field, with a more clinical character for hospitals than for the remaining institutions. An increase in collaboration was observed, as supported by the increase in the coauthorship index, number of institutions per document and collaboration rate. CONCLUSIONS: The international visibility of the Spanish pharmacological research showed and important growth during this period. It was mainly a quantitative growth, since a higher impact or potential influence of the Spanish research over the international scientific community was not detected.