La investigación en Operatoria Dental en España. Análisis de las publicaciones españolas en Medline (1995-2000)

Abstract

Scientific research generates a large volume of information, which is of utility provided that it can be accessed, after its publication, through international bibliographic sources. Under these conditions, the information can enter the world discussion forum around a concrete issue and contribute to global knowledge on a small specific scientific field. The impact of the information on the community of scientists working on related issues can be evaluated in different ways, but perhaps the most widespread method uses the so-called lmpact Factor, which is related to the number of times that the journal, author or article is cited in publications. The purpose of the present study was to analyse research on operative dentistry in Spain between 1995 and October 2000 through the study of the publications signed by Spanish authors in this field and included in MEDLINE, and of the citations that they have generated according to the Science Citation lndex. Our results show that although their presence in the literature is sparse, Spanish authors have made an effort to improve their international visibility. Forty-seven per cent of the articles signed by Spaniards in this field were published in the last five years and all of these appeared in international journals.