[Research in Danish departments of anesthesiology at the turn of the century. A bibliometric analysis].
BACKGROUND
This investigation was based on the surmise that the scientific activity in the specialty of anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine in Denmark is declining.


METHODS
A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the development in Danish anaesthesiological research during the seven-year period of 1992-1998 was performed with bibliometrical methods and a count of the PhD and doctoral theses produced by Danish anaesthesiologists during that period.


RESULTS
In the period investigated, a total of 906 scientific articles were published, of which 749 (83%) originated from university hospitals. Total production decreased by 15% between the two-year periods of 1992-1993 and 1997-1998, whereas the output from university hospitals alone decreased by 10%. The number of scientific publications per anaesthesiologist decreased by 34%, corresponding to 6.7% per year. The quality of the research published, as examined by the cumulative and average impact, showed a slight increase. The number of PhD and doctoral theses per year showed no change.


CONCLUSIONS
Research activity in Danish anaesthesiology is declining, and the specialty seems to be losing scientific ground, both nationally and internationally.
Nilsson
L B
LB
H:S Rigshospitalet, afdelingen for uddannelse, forskning og udvikling i anaestesiologi.
Jensen
T U
TU
Skovgaard
L T
LT
Viby-Mogensen
J
J
D004212:Academic Dissertations as Topic / Q000592:standards; D000761:Anesthesia Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D015706:Bibliometrics; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends