1. Cesarean Sections Research Trend
Chuan-Yaw Chang,1* Hsiao-Chen Chiu,1 Wen-Ta Chiu,2 Yee-Shuan Lee,3 Yuh-Shan Ho3 and Chun-Sen Hsu1#
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Medical University - Wan-Fang Hospital
2Taipei Medical University - Wan-Fang Hospital
3Bibliometric Centre, Taipei Medical University - Wan-Fang Hospital
Introduction
High cesarean section rate is an international public health concern1 and unnecessary cesarean sections would increase the expenditure on the national health program budget.2 National cesarean section rate of Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States have dropped significantly between the time periods 1980 to 1985 and 1985 to Many countries such as Hong Kong,1 China,4 and United States5 have also done studies on cesarean rate to develop reduction methods.
Publication output of a certain discipline or topic indicates its current research trend whether it is presently, previously, or future research focus.6 The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of cesarean sections publication pattern to determine whether it has become a recent research focus.
Methodology
Analysis based on Science Citation Index (SCI) indexed documents:
Keyword as cesarean section rate
Published from 1991 to 2002
Analyzed by:
Yearly production (P)
Citation per publication (CPP) = total citation/total publication
Journal distribution
Origin of authors
Results
Total Publication: 249
Annual Average production: 20
Decreasing CPP: time bias toward earlier publications
Domination of 1 to 3 authors
Authorship affected CPP
Increasing authorship size may increase visibility
1.91 21
4.42 11
German
0.67 4
2.41 6
French
8.66
2010
93.17
232
English
CPP C P% P
Language
English dominated both production and citation 1
Turkey
Taiwan
Israel
Denmark
Australia 2
Switzerland
Saudi Arabia
Canada 3
Netherlands
Germany
France 6 UK 39 US #
Journal Country
Main-Stream Country domination
Published most as articles but reviews were with more impact
21.60
108
2.01 5
Reviews 4
0.40 1
Notes
3.21 8
Meeting Abstract
15.17 91
2.41 6
Letter
3.25 13
1.61
Editorial Material
8.45
1901
90.4
225
Article
CPP C P% P DT
International collaboration affected more on non-English country
Most international collaboration involved English speaking Countries
Main-stream English speaking countries compose 50% of publication Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States
Northern America composed 47% of publication
Non-International
International
Country Type P C
CPP
English
127
1565
12.3 14
162
11.6
Non-English　
103
339
3.29 18
210
11.7
Conclusion
Possible Anglo-Saxon bias
Possible main-stream country bias
Not being the research focus from 1991 to 2002
References
Leung GM, Lam TH, Thach TQ, Wan SM, Ho LM. Rates of cesarean births in Hong Kong: Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care 2001;28:
Eckerlund I, Gerdtham, UG. Econometric analysis of variation in cesarean section rates - A cross-sectional study of 59 obstetrical departments in Sweden. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 1998;14:
Notzon FC, Cnattingius S, Bergsjo P, Cole S, Taffel S, Irgens L, Daltveit AK. Cesarean-section delivery in the 1980s: International comparison by indication. Am J Obstet and Gynecol 1994;170:
Wu WL. Cesarean delivery in Shantou, China: A retrospective analysis of 1922 women. Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care 2000;27:86-90.
Paul RH, Miller DA. Cesarean birth: How to reduce the rate. Am J Obstet and Gynecol 1995;172:
Garfield E. Citation indexing for studying science. Essays of an Information Scientist 1970;1:133-8.