[Critical analysis of awards in gastroenterology research. The Mexican experience]

The impact of Mexican gastrointestinal research worldwide is limited and the outcome of the best research papers awarded by the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología (AMG) is unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the publication pattern of the research work, awarded by the AMG and their impact in international journals. The abstracts accepted for the annual meeting of the AMG from 1998 to 2006 were reviewed. Those presented in a plenary session or awarded were included. Their abstracts were searched in electronic databases. When not found, the main author was contacted by e-mail. In those papers published in a journal with an impact factor, the times it was cited were assessed. 35 abstracts were identified, mainly in gastroenterology (57.1%) and hepatology (34.3). Only in 5.7% (n=2) some of the authors were members of the governing board of AMG. The awarded institutions were Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (48.6%), Universities (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla) (31.4%), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (8.6%), Fundación Clínica Médica Sur (5.7%), Hospital Juárez (2.9%), Private hospital (2.9%). Most of the papers were published within a year (73.7%). Only 2 papers had more than 10 citations in another international journal with impact factor, with a median for all paper of 5 citations (0-45). Considering all institutions, the rate of publication is 48%. Only half of the awarded works were published and mainly in journals of local distribution. The impact of these studies worldwide is limited.