A bibliometric analysis of global clinical research by anesthesia departments

Few studies have investigated the diversity in research conducted by anesthesia-based researchers. We examined global clinical research attributed to anesthesia departments using Medline and Ovid databases. We also investigated the impact of economic development on national academic productivity.

We conducted a Medline search for English-language publications from 2000 to 2005. The search included only clinical research in which institutional affiliation included words relating to anesthesia (e.g., anesthesiology, anesthesia, etc.). Population and gross national income data were obtained from publicly available databases. Impact factors for journals were obtained from Journal Citation Reports (Thomson Scientific).

There were 6736 publications from 64 countries in 551 journals. About 85% of all publications were represented by 46 journals. Randomized controlled trials constituted 4685 (70%) of publications. Turkey had the highest percentage of randomized controlled trials (88%). The United States led the field in quantity (20% of total) and mean impact factor (3.0) of publications. Finland had the highest productivity when adjusted for population (36 publications per million population). Publications from the United States declined from 23% in 2000 to 17% in 2005.

Clinical research attributable to investigators in our specialty is diverse, and extends beyond the traditional field of anesthesia and intensive care. The United States produces the most clinical research, but per capita output is higher in European nations.