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Citation classics in pediatrics: a bibliometric analysis

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Abstract

Background

Citation analysis provides insights into the history and developmental trajectory of scientific fields. Our objective was to perform an analysis of citation classics in the journals of pediatric specialty and to examine their characteristics.

Methods

Initially, all the journals listed under the category of pediatrics (n = 120) were identified using Journal Citation Reports. Web of science database was then searched (1950–2016) to select the top-100 cited articles in the above identified pediatric journals. The top-100 cited article were categorized according the study design, sub-specialty, country, institutional affiliation, and language.

Results

The top-100 articles were published in 18 different journals, with Pediatrics having the highest numbers (n = 40), followed by The Journal of Pediatrics (n = 17). The majority (n = 62) of classics were published after 1990. The most cited article had citation count of 3516 and the least cited had a citation count of 593. The USA (n = 71) was the most commonly represented country, and 60 institutions contributed to 100 articles. Fifteen authors contributed to more than one classic as first or second author. Observational study (n = 55) was the commonest study design across all decades, followed by reviews (n = 12), scale development studies (n = 11), and guidelines (n = 11). Among the pediatric sub-specialties, growth and development articles were highly cited (n = 24), followed by pediatric psychiatry and behavior (n = 21), endocrinology (n = 15), and neonatology (n = 12).

Conclusions

The top-100 cited articles in pediatrics identify the impactful authors, journals, institutes, and countries. Observational study design was predominant—implying that inclusion among citation classics is not related to soundness of study design.

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Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital & Lady Hardinge Medical College, Bangla Sahib Road, New Delhi, 110001, India

    Viswas Chhapola, Soumya Tiwari, Bobbity Deepthi & Sandeep Kumar Kanwal

Authors
  1. Viswas Chhapola
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  2. Soumya Tiwari
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  3. Bobbity Deepthi
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  4. Sandeep Kumar Kanwal
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Contributions

VC contributed to the study conceptualization and design, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, and prepared the first draft of the manuscript. ST contributed to the study conceptualization and design, and acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data. BD contributed to the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data. SKK contributed to the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Viswas Chhapola.

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Chhapola, V., Tiwari, S., Deepthi, B. et al. Citation classics in pediatrics: a bibliometric analysis. World J Pediatr 14, 607–614 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-018-0146-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-018-0146-6

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