Scientometric analysis and combined density-equalizing mapping of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) research.
BACKGROUND
Passive exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is estimated to exert a major burden of disease. Currently, numerous countries have taken legal actions to protect the population against ETS. Numerous studies have been conducted in this field. Therefore, scientometric methods should be used to analyze the accumulated data since there is no such approach available so far.


RESULTS
A combination of scientometric methods and novel visualizing procedures were used, including density-equalizing mapping and radar charting techniques. 6,580 ETS-related studies published between 1900 and 2008 were identified in the ISI database. Using different scientometric approaches, a continuous increase of both quantitative and qualitative parameters was found. The combination with density-equalizing calculations demonstrated a leading position of the United States (2,959 items published) in terms of quantitative research activities. Charting techniques demonstrated that there are numerous bi- and multilateral networks between different countries and institutions in this field. Again, a leading position of American institutions was found.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first comprehensive scientometric analysis of data on global scientific activities in the field of environmental tobacco smoke research. The present findings can be used as a benchmark for funding allocation processes.
Vitzthum
Karin
K
Department of Information Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Free University Berlin and Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany. karin.vitzthum@charite.de
Scutaru
Cristian
C
Musial-Bright
Lindy
L
Quarcoo
David
D
Welte
Tobias
T
Spallek
Michael
M
Groneberg-Kloft
Beatrix
B
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012906:Smoke
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012906:Smoke