[Bibliometric analysis of Danish medical research 1986-1992]

The productivity of major Danish research milieus were compared and Denmark was compared with Norway and Sweden. Number and proportion of articles published in the 200 and 500 most cited journals increased over the years (p < 0.0001). Sweden had approximately twice as many articles as Denmark which had twice as many as Norway. The universities, private companies and societies and Steno Diabetes Centre had relatively most publications in the best journals. Rigshospitalet and the hospitals in the municipalities of Copenhagen and Arhus also did better than other hospitals. Impact in relation to research personnel and expenses was highest in the municipality of Copenhagen and at Alborg Hospital. Compared with number of beds, the productivity was highest at Steno and Rigshospitalet. The productivity was similar at the three universities in relation to research personnel and largest in Arhus in relation to expenses. The municipality and county of Copenhagen, Alborg and other provincial hospitals contributed relatively most to clinical trials; Rigshospitalet contributed least. The differences in productivity were so large that better priority setting and evaluation of the research seem worthwhile.