[Bibliometric analysis of doctorate thesis on the health sciences area: first part, odontology]

The purpose of the following study was to describe trends in the use of information by dentistry thesists and their research topics in Medical Education, Ethics and History.

Of a total of 290 doctorate thesis of the Dentistry Faculty made from 1965 to 2002, were identified: 3 theses on Medical Education and 1 on Ethics. On these, bibliographic quotations from periodic and non periodic publications, as well as quotations from doctorate thesis and congress acts were analyzed. In addition the antiquity of these was analyzed considering a period of five years between the date of accomplishment of the thesis and the one of the used bibliographical quotation.

The total of analyzed quotations was of 492, presenting an average of 123 quotations per thesis. 62 per cent of the quotations corresponded to non periodic publications, 37 per cent to periodic publications and 2 per cent to quotations from doctorate thesis and congress acts. In regard of the antiquity of the quotations, 42 per cent was smaller to 5 years and 58 per cent was greater than that period of time.

We concluded the doctorate thesis represent the highest degree of scientific and academic expression, and constitute a rich and valuable source of data. The analysis of these theses is very important because it provides information about the trends and innovations on the on the areas of Medical Education, Ethics and History. It would be (very) useful to extend the bibliometric analysis towards other thematic areas, generating a reference for future research.