Spanish Productivity in Smoking Research Relative to World and European Union Productivity From 1999 Through 2003, Analyzed With the Science Citation Index

[Social network analysis in public health research: a systematic review]

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review was conducted to know the contributions of social network analysis (SNA) to public health research (PHR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The databases analyzed were Academic Search Complete, PubMed and MEDLINE. A total of 1 151 articles were processed, of which 361 met the inclusion criteria and make up the final sample.

RESULTS

The generic profiles of assessed papers are quantitative (84.5%) and cross-sectional (64.5%), and use conventional statistical procedures to test hypotheses (68.9%). Studies examining the role of networks as a risk factor or health protection (38%), epidemiological research (34.6%), and work analyzing systems that provide social and health care (24.4%) are noteworthy.

CONCLUSIONS

Remarkable differences among research were identified at the egocentric and sociocentric levels of analysis. Results are discussed in order to increase the effectiveness of PHR through SNA methods.

Taking stock a bibliometric analysis of the focus of tobacco research from the 1980s to the 2000s

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the body of tobacco research as a whole.

PURPOSE

This paper examines the changes in literature focus (1980s to 2000s) and identifies areas in need of increased attention.

METHODS

Tobacco articles randomly selected from searches of the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were coded according to (1) epidemiologic framework component; (2) study focus; and (3) form of tobacco. Frequencies, cross-tabulations, and tests of proportions were conducted. The analysis was conducted in 2009.

RESULTS

From the 1980s to the 2000s, there was a significant decrease in tobacco-related articles focusing on the "agent" and an increase in articles focusing on the "host." Few articles in either decade focused on the "environment" or on the "vector" (<10%). The percentage of study foci addressing health effects decreased, whereas prevalence/use and cessation foci increased. Approximately two thirds of articles focused on the cigarette.

CONCLUSIONS

The nature of tobacco research has shifted from examining the links between cigarettes and disease to understanding why people smoke and how to help them quit. Proportionately more research could focus on the environment and vector components of the epidemiologic framework, to expand strategies for reducing tobacco-related disease.

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.

METHODS AND 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.

Tobacco control: visualisation of research activity using density-equalizing mapping and scientometric benchmarking procedures

BACKGROUND

Tobacco smoking continues to be a major preventable cause of death and disease and therefore tobacco control research is extremely important. However, research in this area is often hampered by a lack in funding and there is a need for scientometric techniques to display research efforts.

METHODS

The present study combines classical bibliometric tools with novel scientometric and visualizing techniques in order to analyse and categorise research in the field of tobacco control.

RESULTS

All studies related to tobacco control and listed in the ISI database since 1900 were identified by the use of defined search terms. Using bibliometric approaches, a continuous increase in qualitative markers such as collaboration numbers or citations were found for tobacco control research. The combination with density equalizing mapping revealed a distinct global pattern of research productivity and citation activity. Radar chart techniques were used to visualize bi- and multilateral research cooperation and institutional cooperation.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study supplies a first scientometric approach that visualises research activity in the field of tobacco control. It provides data that can be used for funding policy and the identification of research clusters.