The production and use of health information: bibliometric study the epidemiology

Abstract

A descriptive bibliometric study on the production and use of health information, carried out by means of analyzes of journal articles authored by professors of the Post-graduate Program in Epidemiology from the Universidade Federal de Pelotas (PPGE/UFPel) during 1991-2002. Three units of analysis were looked at: professors, publications and citations. The twelve professors from the Program were analyzed based on their graduation and post-graduated education, association with PPGE/UFPel, articles productivity and types of collaboration. The 237 articles published by the professors were analyzed regarding journal and language. The 4.079 citations to articles included in the publications were analyzed regarding authorship, age and journal. Results showed that professors basic education is medical science and nutrition. Five professors remained associated to the program during the time period studied. The average number of articles doubled during the time period. Professors published mainly in national journals using Portuguese language. Half of their publications (51,5%) were concentrated in seven journals (9%). They presented an average of 24 citations, of which 72% to articles, confirming journals as the main communication channel for heath science. Most of the articles were cited only once (75%) and 16 of them (1%) were cited more than 10 times. It was observed a tendency to self-citation and to domestic citation. Four journals were amongst the more frequently cited and used, namely, Revista de Saúde Pública, Cadernos de Saúde Pública, International Journal of Epidemiology e Journal of Nutrition. The average articles were eight years old. Collaboration patterns were studied by means of articles co-authorship and reveled that professors publish more articles in shared (93%) that single authorship (7%). Correlation between productivity and collaboration were not found. By means of network analysis it was possible to verify the degree of collaboration between professors and leadership.