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Mapping the literature of dietetics
1Del E. Webb Memorial Library, Loma Linda University, California 92350, USA.
Bulletin of the Medical Library Association
|July 31, 1999
Summary
This bibliometric study identified core dietetics journals and their indexing coverage. Dietetic literature relies on associated health science journals, with EMBASE and MEDLINE offering the most comprehensive indexing.
Area of Science:
- Dietetics
- Bibliometrics
- Health Sciences Literature
Background:
- The literature of dietetics, distinct from general nutrition, lacks dedicated bibliometric analysis.
- This study addresses a gap in understanding the core journals and indexing of dietetic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary journals publishing dietetic literature.
- To assess the indexing coverage of these core dietetics journals.
- To inform researchers and librarians about the landscape of dietetic literature.
Main Methods:
- A bibliometric analysis of citations from three key dietetics journals (1995-1997).
- Methodology aligned with the "Project for Mapping the Literature of Allied Health."
- Evaluation of indexing coverage by major scientific databases.
Main Results:
- Dietetic literature is heavily reliant on journal publications, including those from related health science fields.
- EMBASE/Excerpta Medica and MEDLINE provided the most extensive indexing for dietetic journals.
- Specific core journals were identified as central to the field.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the core literature and its accessibility is crucial for dietetics professionals and researchers.
- The findings highlight the importance of comprehensive indexing in major databases like EMBASE and MEDLINE for dietetics research.
- This research provides a foundation for future studies on the literature of dietetics.