1. Assessing RU-486 Research Productivity
Chiung-Yu Chiu1*, Lin-Chiao Wu1, Yee-Shuan Lee2 and Yuh-Shan Ho1#
1School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University
2Bibliometric Centre, Taipei Medical University - Wan-Fang Hospital
Introduction
The use of mifepristone as an abortion drug is still doubtable as an ethic issue and two decades after its creation, mifepristone becomes an option for women in the United States seeking an abortion. A brief history of mifepristone is listed:
1980 Mifepristone was first synthesized FDA issued testing permit for mifepristone to the Population Council France approved use as early abortion method Bush administration banned importation for "personal use." United Kingdom approved mifepristone Sweden approved mifepristone Personal importation ban lifted by Clinton administration Population Council conducted clinical trials at 17 U.S. clinics New Drug Application for mifepristone-misoprostol medical abortions submitted.
Six months later, the FDA issued an "approvable" letter asking for more information FDA gave mifepristone final marketing approval.
The purpose of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis on the publication pattern of documents related to RU-486. A clear domination should shown particularly in United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and France.
Methodology
Documents extracted with following criteria:
Science Citation Index documents
Include keyword RU-486
Published from 1981 to 2002
Analysis based on:
Citation per Publication (CPP) = Citation/Publication
Yearly publication (P)
Country of Origin
Authorship
US domination due to later approval
Steady incline of yearly production
Results
Total production: 1805
Average yearly production: 150
98% were published in English
Steady yearly production
Main-stream country domination
USA and UK accounted for more than 50% of total production
Conclusion
Steady production indicate RU-486 is not a recent research topic
Searched under a brand-name rather than the content might introduce a different result
Steady decrease of production after approval denoted the research mostly done for monitoring
Domination of main-stream countries in production and citation
All four countries were among the top 6 producing countries
Reference