Biomedical research productivity: factors across the countries.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to elicit the factors related to worldwide variation in biomedical research productivity.


METHODS
Biomedical research articles published in 1990-2000 were accessed through the MEDLINE database. The number of articles (journal articles) originating from each of the countries of the world was elicited and normalized to publication per million population per year.


RESULTS
In a multiple regression model, where publication per million population was the dependent variable and 10 social and economic indicators were independent variables, gross national product (GNP) per capita and research and development (R&D) expenditure emerged as significant factors. In separate simple linear regression analyses, all but two independent variables were found significant.


CONCLUSIONS
To increase biomedical research output, GNP per capita and R&D expenditure are the most important factors to address.
Rahman
Mahbubur
M
Department of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. rahman@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Fukui
Tsuguya
T
D015706:Bibliometrics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics; D019049:Developed Countries; D004526:Efficiency; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data