Bibliometric assessment of cancer research in Puerto Rico, 1903-2005

Abstract

Objective The analysis of scientific production in Puerto Rico is largely unexplored. The main aim of this study is to present the characteristics and trends of cancer publications in Puerto Rico’s biomedical journals and their relationship with the island’s cancer mortality. Methods A PubMed and a hard-copy search were performed to retrieve cancer-related articles published in the Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal and the Boletín de la Asociación Médica de Puerto Rico from 1903 to 2005. Bibliometric indicators studied included the number of authors and references by article, first author’s institutional affiliation and country, document type, and language. The study type and tumor classification were also recorded. Cancer proportional mortality (M%) in Puerto Rico and the proportion of cancer-related articles (P%) published were also evaluated. The annual percent change (APC) was estimated to assess trends. Results A total of 369 articles were retrieved. The institutions with the majority of publications were universities (39.6%), English was the predominant publication language (72.1%), and the principal document type was original papers (69.6%). Epidemiologic studies were the dominant study type (62.1%), and the most studied cancers were digestive (15.4%) and gynecologic (9.6%). Although the P% has increased since 1913 (APC = 1.2%), the M% increased at a faster pace (APC = 2.7%). Conclusions Although a growth in the number of cancer publications is observed in these journals, it does not parallel the increase in proportional mortality. A better understanding of the cancer publications in Puerto Rico is essential to establish priorities, define future areas of research, and develop cancer control strategies.

Scientometric analysis of the Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium (PRCTRC) research publications, 2010–2018

“…Prior studies in Puerto Rico were in cancer [10,11]. In the first study, a total of 369 articles were retrieved during the period of 1903 to 2005.…”

“…In Puerto Rico, two prior studies assessed the scientific research productivity of Puerto Rican cancer researchers, so prior bibliometric studies have been conducted but limited to cancer [10,11]. One of the articles presents the characteristics and trends of cancer publications in Puerto Rico's biomedical journals and their relationship with the island's cancer mortality [10]. This first study limits its analysis to the papers published in the Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal and the Boletín de la Asociación Médica de Puerto Rico from 1903 to 2005.…”

“…This first study limits its analysis to the papers published in the Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal and the Boletín de la Asociación Médica de Puerto Rico from 1903 to 2005. Bibliometric indicators studied included the number of authors and references by article, first author's institutional affiliation and country, document type, and language [10]. A study by Calo and collaborators characterizes the trends in cancer-related research publications by authors affiliated to Puerto Rican institutions in recent decades [11].…”

Research Contributions on Oral Cancer in India: An Analysis of Citation Count

“…Table 3 reported analysis of cancer literature. [12][13][14] There are bibliometric studies on cancer of specific organs such as cervical cancer, [15][16] breast cancer [17] and oral cancer, [18] while other bibliometric studies are on cancer in specific countries [19][20][21] including a study on global perspectives. [22] Specific country based cancer studies include Arab countries, [23] Brazil, [24] France, [25] Iran, [26][27] Mexico [28] and Nigeria.…”

Oncology Research Output and its Citation Analysis at Continental Level: A Study (2003-2012)

“…Furthermore, the researchers revealed that collaborative publications are the ones which are more cited. [12] undertook bibliometric study of cancer research in Puerto Rico for the period 1903-2005 by evaluating 369 articles and found that majority 39.6 % publications were university publications, 72.1 % articles were written in English language, 69.6 % articles were original research papers and the studies were mostly concerned with digestive cancer studies and Gynecology. The authors further observed that although research in the field of oncology has increased significantly in the country, especially post 1913 but the rate of cancer mortality has increased even at a much faster rate.…”