title: Medical education research in GCC countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical education is an essential domain to produce physicians with high standards of medical knowledge, skills and professionalism in medical practice. This study aimed to investigate the research progress and prospects of GCC countries in medical education during the period 1996-2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the research papers published in various global scientific journals during the period 1996-2013 were accessed. We recorded the total number of research documents having an affiliation with GCC Countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman. The main source for information was Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science, Thomson Reuters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In ISI-Web of Science, Saudi Arabia contributed 40797 research papers, Kuwait 1666, United Arab Emirates 3045, Qatar 4265, Bahrain 1666 and Oman 4848 research papers. However, in Medical Education only Saudi Arabia contributed 323 (0.79%) research papers, Kuwait 52 (0.03%), United Arab Emirates 41(0.01%), Qatar 37(0.008%), Bahrain 28 (0.06%) and Oman 22 (0.45%) research papers in in ISI indexed journals. In medical education the Hirsch index (h-index) of Saudi Arabia is 14, United Arab Emirates 14, Kuwait 11, Qatar 8, Bahrain 8 and Oman 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GCC countries produced very little research in medical education during the period 1996-2013. They must improve their research outcomes in medical education to produce better physicians to enhance the standards in medical practice in the region.
authors: Sultan Ayoub
authors: SA
authors: Meo
authors: Asim
authors: A
authors: Hassan
authors: Mansoor
authors: M
authors: Aqil
authors: Adnan Mahmood
authors: AM
authors: Usmani
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
references: Radiology. 2010 May;255(2):342-51
references: 20413749
references: Med Teach. 2012;34 Suppl 1:S1-3
references: 22409184
references: Nature. 2010 Jun 10;465(7299):682-4
references: 20535177
references: PLoS One. 2013 Jun 20;8(6):e66449
references: 23840471
references: Ann Saudi Med. 2008 Mar-Apr;28(2):83-8
references: 18398281
references: Med Teach. 2010;32(3):219-24
references: 20218836
references: Sci Rep. 2012;2:350
references: 22482034
references: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013 Oct;17(20):2697-705
references: 24174349