A Map of Clinical Dermatology Research Centers in Spain: Results of the MaIND Study

Mapping the psoriasis research landscape: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis from 2012-2023

An extensive investigation explores the complex terrain of psoriasis, a persistent inflammatory dermatological disorder that impacts between 1% and 3% of the worldwide populace. Acknowledging the intricate interplay between environmental, genetic, and immunological influences on the etiology of psoriasis, the study utilizes sophisticated bibliometric techniques to investigate patterns, gaps in knowledge, and emergent trends within the field. The study utilizes advanced bibliometric techniques to analyze patterns, gaps in knowledge, and emerging trends in the field while acknowledging the intricate interplay between environmental, genetic, and immune-related influences on the etiology of psoriasis. An examination of 18,765 documents from December 2012 to December 2023 was conducted using machine learning techniques and the Scopus database. The explanation for conducting analysis is rooted in its capacity to provide significant perspectives on the dynamic progression of psoriasis research. The study facilitates the identification of significant subject areas, exposes patterns in publication trends, emphasizes influential authors and journals, and outlines the worldwide contributions to the field. The study demonstrates a steady and progressive increase in publications, with significant contributions from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the British Journal of Dermatology, and the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Prominent scholars in research output, such as the United States, China, and Germany, as well as authors including Feldman, Wu, Griffiths, Puig, and Reich K., are identified. Biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology come to the forefront as esteemed fields that make substantial contributions to the study of psoriasis alongside medicine. This research highlights the interdisciplinary aspects of psoriasis by uncovering knowledge hubs and international collaborations between authors and organizations. The findings highlight the global reach of research on psoriasis and the importance of international cooperation.

Clinical research in Dermatology: resources and activities associated with a higher scientific productivity

BACKGROUND

Clinical research papers and their derived metrics can be useful to assess the scientific production of medical and research centers. Diverse factors are probably associated to differences in scientific production. But there are scarce studies analyzing them. Resources are limited and have to be distributed efficiently. The objective of this study was to explore what resources and activities are potentially associated with a higher scientific productivity.

METHODS

A bibliometric study was performed to obtain information about scientific productivity. Papers included had to meet criteria to be considered clinical research in dermatology, additionally had to be published between the years 2005-2014, had to be included in Pubmed or Embase and had to include a Spanish center of dermatology as the correspondence address. Information about research resources and activities of the year 2015 was gathered by means of an online survey sent to the authors identified in the bibliometric study.

RESULTS

The search strategy returned 8617 papers and only 1104 of them (12.81%) met the inclusion criteria. 63 out of 113 centers responded to the survey (55.75%). Factors associated with a higher scientific productivity were: the size of the resident program, the amount of time specifically dedicated to research, a lower clinical workload, and the number of clinical trials performed in the last year.

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated that some factors are associated with a higher scientific productivity. Residency program, more research staff, clinical workload redistribution and research motivation/initiatives are key strategies that could improve scientific productivity of a center.