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Chou W, Chow JC. Analyzing collaboration and impact: A bibliometric review of four highly published authors' research profiles on collaborative maps. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e38686. [PMID: 38996096 PMCID: PMC11245264 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The concept of impact beam plots (IBPs) has been introduced in academia as a means to profile individual researchers. Despite its potential, there has been a lack of comprehensive analysis that evaluates the research profiles of highly published authors through the lens of collaborative maps. This study introduces a novel approach, the rating scale for research profiles (RSRP), to create collaborative maps for prolific authors. The initial hypothesis posited that each of the research profiles would attain a grade A, necessitating empirical verification. This research employed collaborative maps to analyze the publication patterns of authors using the Web of Science database, focusing on co-authorship patterns and the impact of their scholarly work. The study relied on various bibliometric indicators, such as publication count, citation metrics, h-index, and co-authorship networks, to provide a detailed assessment of the contributions made by each author in their field. Additionally, authors' IBPs were generated and assessed alongside collaborative maps, using a grading scale ranging from A (excellent) to F (lacking any articles as first or corresponding author). The analysis confirmed that all 4 research profiles achieved a grade A, with their centroids located in the third quadrant, indicating a high level of scholarly impact. The h-indexes for the authors were found to be 38, 51, 53, and 59, respectively. Notably, Dr Tseng from Taiwan showed a distinct pattern, with a significant number of solo-authored publications in the second quadrant, in contrast to the other 3 authors who demonstrated a greater emphasis on collaboration, as evidenced by their positioning in the first quadrant. The study successfully demonstrates that RSRP and IBPs can be effectively used to analyze and profile the research output of highly published authors through collaborative maps. The research confirms the initial hypothesis that all 4 profiles would achieve a grade A, indicating an excellent level of scholarly impact and a strong presence in their respective fields. The utility of collaborative maps can be applied to bibliometric indicators in assessing the contributions and impact of scholars in the academic community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiali Chi-Mei Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung 400, Taiwan
| | - Julie Chi Chow
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung San Medical University, Taichung 400, Taiwan
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Ho SYC, Chow JC, Chou W. Evaluating the dependability of reference-driven citation forecasts amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A bibliometric analysis across diverse journals. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36219. [PMID: 38241539 PMCID: PMC10798765 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The journal impact factor significantly influences research publishing and funding decisions. With the surge in research due to COVID-19, this study investigates whether references remain reliable citation predictors during this period. METHODS Four multidisciplinary journals (PLoS One, Medicine [Baltimore], J. Formos. Med. Assoc., and Eur. J. Med. Res.) were analyzed using the Web of Science database for 2020 to 2022 publications. The study employed descriptive, predictive, and diagnostic analytics, with tools such as 4-quadrant radar plots, univariate regressions, and country-based collaborative maps via the follower-leading cluster algorithm. RESULTS Six countries dominated the top 20 affiliations: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, and Brazil. References remained strong citation indicators during the COVID-19 period, except for Eur. J. Med. Res. due to its smaller sample size (n = 492) than other counterparts (i.e., 41,181, 12,793, and 1464). Three journals showed higher network density coefficients, suggesting a potential foundation for reference-based citation predictions. CONCLUSION Despite variations among journals, references effectively predict article citations during the COVID-19 era, underlining the importance of network density. Future studies should delve deeper into the correlation between network density and citation prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Yu-Chieh Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Julie Chi Chow
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiali Chi-Mei Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Lin HY, Chou W, Chien TW, Yeh YT, Kuo SC, Hsu SY. Analyzing shifts in age-related macular degeneration research trends since 2014: A bibliometric study with triple-map Sankey diagrams (TMSD). Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36547. [PMID: 38241545 PMCID: PMC10798733 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of vision impairment in older adults, especially in developed countries. While many articles on AMD exist in the literature, none specifically delve into the trends based on document categories. While bibliometric studies typically use dual-map overlays to highlight new trends, these can become congested and unclear with standard formats (e.g., in CiteSpace software). In this study, we introduce a unique triple-map Sankey diagram (TMSD) to assess the evolution of AMD research. Our objective is to understand the nuances of AMD articles and show the effectiveness of TMSD in determining whether AMD research trends have shifted over the past decade. METHODS We collected 7465 articles and review pieces related to AMD written by ophthalmologists from the Web of Science core collection, accumulating article metadata from 2014 onward. To delve into the characteristics of these AMD articles, we employed various visualization methods, with a special focus on TMSD to track research evolution. We adopted the descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics (DDPP) model, complemented by the follower-leading clustering algorithm (FLCA) for clustering analysis. This synergistic approach proved efficient in identifying and showcasing research focal points and budding trends using network charts within the DDPP framework. RESULTS Our findings indicate that: in countries, institutes, years, authors, and journals, the dominant entities were the United States, the University of Bonn in Germany, the year 2021, Dr Jae Hui Kim from South Korea, and the journal "Retina"; in accordance with the TMSD, AMD research trends have not changed significantly since 2014, as the top 4 categories for 3 citing, active, and cited articles have not changed, in sequence (Ophthalmology, Science & Technology - Other Topics, General & Internal Medicine, Pharmacology & Pharmacy). CONCLUSION The introduced TMSD, which incorporates the FLCA algorithm and features in 3 columns-cited, active, and citing research categories-offers readers clearer insights into research developments compared to the traditional dual-map overlays from CiteSpace software. Such tools are especially valuable for streamlining the visualization of the intricate data often seen in bibliometric studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Ying Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong Kang, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiali Chi-Mei Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsair-Wei Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Tsen Yeh
- Medical School, St. George’s, University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Shu-Chun Kuo
- Department of Optometry, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong Kang, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yao Hsu
- Department of Optometry, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Chuang CY, Chou W, Chien TW, Jen TH. Trends and hotspots related to traditional and modern approaches on acupuncture for stroke: A bibliometric and visualization analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35332. [PMID: 38050290 PMCID: PMC10695603 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture role in stroke treatment and post-stroke rehabilitation has garnered significant attention. However, there is a noticeable gap in bibliometric studies on this topic. Additionally, the precision and comprehensive methodology of cluster analysis remain underexplored. This research sought to introduce an innovative cluster analysis technique (called follower-leading clustering algorithm, FLCA) to evaluate global publications and trends related to acupuncture for stroke in the recent decade. METHODS Publications pertaining to acupuncture for stroke from 2013 to 2022 were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection. For the assessment of publication attributes-including contributing countries/regions (e.g., US states, provinces, and major cities in China) in comparison to others, institutions, departments, authors, journals, and keywords-we employed bibliometric visualization tools combined with the FLCA algorithm. The analysis findings, inclusive of present research status, prospective trends, and 3 influential articles, were presented through bibliometrics with visualizations. RESULTS We identified 1050 publications from 92 countries/regions. An initial gradual rise in publication numbers was observed until 2019, marking a pivotal juncture. Prominent contributors in research, based on criteria such as regions, institutions, departments, and authors, were Beijing (China), Beijing Univ Chinese Med (China), the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, and Lidian Chen (Fujian). The journal "Evid.-based Complement Altern" emerged as the most productive. The FLCA algorithm was effectively employed for co-word and author collaboration analyses. Furthermore, we detail the prevailing research status, anticipated trends, and 3 standout articles via bibliometrics. CONCLUSION Acupuncture for stroke presents a vast research avenue. It is imperative for scholars from various global regions and institutions to transcend academic boundaries to foster dialogue and cooperation. For forthcoming bibliometric investigations, the application of the FLCA algorithm for cluster analysis is advocated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yu Chuang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiali Chi-Mei Hospital, Tainan 710, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung 400, Taiwan
| | - Tsair-Wei Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Hui Jen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Senior Welfare and Service, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
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Chuang HY, Ho SYC, Chou W, Tsai CL. Exploring the top-cited literature in telerehabilitation for joint replacement using the descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics model: A thematic and bibliometric analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e36475. [PMID: 38050200 PMCID: PMC10695623 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telerehabilitation offers a novel approach supplementing or replacing traditional physical rehabilitation. While research on telerehabilitation for joint replacement (TJR) has expanded, no study has investigated the top 100 cited articles (T100TJR) using the descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics (DDPP) model. This study aims to examine the features of T100TJR in TJR through the DDPP approaches. METHODS A comprehensive search of the Web of Science Core Collection was conducted to locate all pertinent English-language documents from the database's inception until August 2, 2023. The T100TJR articles were then identified based on citation counts. The DDPP analytics model, along with 7 visualization techniques, was used to analyze metadata elements such as countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. An impact timeline view was employed to highlight 2 particularly noteworthy articles. RESULTS We analyzed 712 articles and observed a consistent upward trend in publications, culminating in a noticeable peak in 2022. The United States stood out as the primary contributor. A detailed examination of the top 100 articles (T100TJR) revealed the following leading contributors since 2010: the United States (by country), University of Sherbrooke, Canada (by institutions), 2017 (by publication year), and Dr Hawker from Canada (by authors). We delineated 4 major themes within these articles. The theme "replacement" dominated, featuring in 89% of them. There was a strong correlation between the citations an article garnered and its keyword prominence (F = 3030.37; P < .0001). Additionally, 2 particularly high-impact articles were underscored for recommendation. CONCLUSIONS Telerehabilitation for TJR has seen rising interest, with the U.S. leading contributions. The study highlighted dominant themes, especially "replacement," in top-cited articles. The significant correlation between article citations and keyword importance indicates the criticality of keyword selection. The research underscores the importance of 2 pivotal articles, recommending them for deeper insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Ying Chuang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Chung Hwa University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sam Yu-Chieh Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiali Chi-Mei Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Liang Tsai
- Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Cheng TY, Ho SYC, Chien TW, Chow JC, Chou W. A comprehensive approach for clustering analysis using follower-leading clustering algorithm (FLCA): Bibliometric analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35156. [PMID: 37861508 PMCID: PMC10589539 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are 3 issues in bibliometrics that need to be addressed: The lack of a clear definition for author collaborations in cluster analysis that takes into account collaborations with and without self-connections; The need to develop a simple yet effective clustering algorithm for use in coword analysis, and; The inadequacy of general bibliometrics in regard to comparing research achievements and identifying articles that are worth reading and recommended for readers. The study aimed to put forth a clustering algorithm for cluster analysis (called following leader clustering [FLCA], a follower-leading clustering algorithm), examine the dissimilarities in cluster outcomes when considering collaborations with and without self-connections in cluster analysis, and demonstrate the application of the clustering algorithm in bibliometrics. METHODS The study involved a search for articles and review articles published in JMIR Medical Informatics between 2016 and 2022, conducted using the Web of Science core collections. To identify author collaborations (ACs) and themes over the past 7 years, the study utilized the FLCA algorithm. With the 3 objectives of; Comparing the results obtained from scenarios with and without self-connections; Applying the FLCA algorithm in ACs and themes, and; Reporting the findings using traditional bibliometric approaches based on counts and citations, and all plots were created using R. RESULTS The study found a significant difference in cluster outcomes between the 2 scenarios with and without self-connections, with a 53.8% overlap (14 out of the top 20 countries in ACs). The top clusters were led by Yonsei University in South Korea, Grang Luo from the US, and model in institutes, authors, and themes over the past 7 years. The top entities with the most publications in JMIR Medical Informatics were the United States, Yonsei University in South Korea, Medical School, and Grang Luo from the US. CONCLUSION The FLCA algorithm proposed in this study offers researchers a comprehensive approach to exploring and comprehending the complex connections among authors or keywords. The study suggests that future research on ACs with cluster analysis should employ FLCA and R visualizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Yun Cheng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sam Yu-Chieh Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tsair-Wei Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Julie Chi Chow
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiali Chi-Mei Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Cheng TY, Yu-Chieh Ho S, Chien TW, Chou W. Global research trends in artificial intelligence for critical care with a focus on chord network charts: Bibliometric analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35082. [PMID: 37746962 PMCID: PMC10519472 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The field of critical care-related artificial intelligence (AI) research is rapidly gaining interest. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive bibliometric studies that measure and analyze scientific publications on a global scale. Network charts have traditionally been used to highlight author collaborations and coword phenomena (ACCP). It is necessary to determine whether chord network charts (CNCs) can provide a better understanding of ACCP, thus requiring clarification. This study aimed to achieve 2 objectives: evaluate global research trends in AI in intensive care medicine on publication outputs, coauthorships between nations, citations, and co-occurrences of keywords; and demonstrate the use of CNCs for ACCP in bibliometric analysis. METHODS The web of science database was searched for a total of 1992 documents published between 2013 and 2022. The document type was limited to articles and article reviews, and titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility. The characteristics of the publications, including preferred journals, leading research countries, international collaborations, top institutions, and major keywords, were analyzed using the category-journal rank-authorship-L-index score and trend analysis. The 100 most highly cited articles are also listed in detail. RESULTS Between 2018 and 2022, there was a sharp increase in publications, which accounted for 92.8% (1849/1992) of all papers included in the study. The United States and China were responsible for nearly 50% (936/1992) of the total publications. The leading countries, institutes, departments, authors, and journals in terms of publications were the US, Massachusetts Gen Hosp (US), Medical School, Zhongheng Zhang (China), and Science Reports. The top 3 primary keywords denoting research hotspots for AI in critically ill patients were mortality, model, and intensive care unit, with mortality having the highest burst strength (4.49). The keywords risk and system showed the highest growth trend (0.98) in counts over the past 4 years. CONCLUSIONS This study provides valuable insights into the potential for ACCP and future research opportunities. For AI-based clinical research to become widely accepted in critical care practice, collaborative research efforts are necessary to strengthen the maturity and robustness of AI-driven models using CNCs for display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Yun Cheng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sam Yu-Chieh Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tsair-Wei Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chi Mei Medical Center, Jiali, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Ho SYC, Chien TW, Chou W. Visualizing burst spots on research for four authors in MDPI journals named to be Citation Laureates 2021 using temporal bar graph. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34578. [PMID: 37565889 PMCID: PMC10419625 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The appearance of a topic in a document stream is signaled by a burst of activity, with certain features rising sharply in frequency as the topic emerges. Although temporal bar graph (TBG) is frequently applied to present the burst spot in the bibliographical study, none of the research has combined the inflection point (IP) to interpret the burst spot feature. The aims of this study are to improve the traditional TBG and apply the TBG to understand better the evolution of a topic (e.g., publications and citations for a given author). METHODS The EISTL model, including entity, indicator, selection of a few vital ones (named attributes) with higher values in quantity (e.g., the citation data of the top 10 entities), TBG and line-chart plots to verify the trend of interest, was proposed to demonstrate the TBG as a whole. The IP locations compared to the median point in data along with the heap map and line-chart trend were identified. The burst strength was computed. A dashboard on Google Maps was designed and launched for bibliometric analysis. Four authors in MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute) journals named to be Citation Laureates 2021 were recruited to compare their research achievements shown on the TBG, particularly displaying the burst spots and the recent developments and stages (e.g., increasing, ready to increase, slowdown, or decreasing). RESULTS We observed that the highest burst strengths in publication and citations are earned by Barry Halliwell (8.99) and Jean-Pierre Changeux (18.01). The breakthrough of TBG using the EISTL model to display the influence of authors in academics was made with 2 parts of the primary IP point and the trend feature in the data. CONCLUSION The dashboard-type TBG shown on Google Maps is unique and innovative and able to provide deeper insights to readers, not merely limited to the publications and citations for a given author as we did in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Yu-Chieh Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tsair-Wei Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chiali Chi-Mei Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Liang YE, Ho SYC, Chien TW, Chou W. Analyzing the number of articles with network meta-analyses using chord diagrams and temporal heatmaps over the past 10 years: Bibliometric analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34063. [PMID: 37352064 PMCID: PMC10289580 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Network meta-analyses (NMAs) are statistical techniques used to synthesize data from multiple studies and compare the effectiveness of different interventions for a particular disease or condition. They have gained popularity in recent years as a tool for evidence-based decision making in healthcare. Whether publications in NMAs have an increasing trend is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the trends in the number of NMA articles over the past 10 years when compared to non-NMA articles. METHODS The study utilized data from the Web of Science database, specifically searching for articles containing the term "meta-analysis" published between 2013 and 2022. The analysis examined the annual number of articles, as well as the countries, institutions, departments, and authors associated with the articles and the journals in which they were published. Ten different visualization techniques, including line charts, choropleth maps, chord diagrams, circle packing charts, forest plots, temporal heatmaps, impact beam plots, pyramid plots, 4-quadrant radar plots, and scatter plots, were employed to support the hypothesis that the number of NMA-related articles has increased (or declined) over the past decade when compared to non-NMA articles. RESULTS Our findings indicate that there was no difference in mean citations or publication trends between NMA and non-NMA; the United States, McMaster University (Canada), medical schools, Dan Jackson from the United Kingdom, and the Journal of Medicine (Baltimore) were among the leading entities; NMA ranked highest on the coword analysis, followed by heterogeneity, quality, and protocol, with weighted centrality degrees of 32.51, 30.84, 29.43, and 24.26, respectively; and the number of NMA-related articles had increased prior to 2020 but experienced a decline in the past 3 years, potentially due to being overshadowed by the intense academic focus on COVID-19. CONCLUSION It is evident that the number of NMA articles increased rapidly between 2013 and 2019 before leveling off in the years following. For researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals who are interested in evidence-based decision making, the visualizations used in this study may be useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Erh Liang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sam Yu-Chieh Ho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, ChiMei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tsair-Wei Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Willy Chou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung San Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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