[Neuropediatrics in the context of pediatric subspecialties: bibliometric analysis].

INTRODUCTION: There is no detailed information on the scientific production in neuropediatrics (NP) in Spain, and we studied this problem by means of a model of bibliometric analysis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of all the articles published in the main pediatric Spanish journal (An Esp Pediatr) over a 13 years period (1984-96). Quantitative and qualitative bibliometric indicators of the articles over NP were performed.

RESULTS: NP is the subject matter in 7.8% (n = 235) of all the articles published in An Esp Pediatr, the fifth subspecialty in productivity. The main type of articles in NP are Clinical notes (55.3%), double than Originals (29.8%). It is important the absolute productivity of two hospitals (La Paz and Sant Joan de Déu), and the relative productivity of others (Xeral de Galicia, Valdecilla, Ramón y Cajal, etc.). The median of authors (5) and the references (15) per article are similar than other biomedical publications. The essential authorship of the scientific activity in NP fall on hospitals, with poor authorship on University and Health Care Centers. Two unfavorable bibliometric indicators in the articles of NP are: 1. Excessive use of English references (insularity index = 9.54%), and 2. The low statistical accessibility in Original articles (1.81), lower than greater part of the pediatric subspecialties.

CONCLUSIONS: NP have a significant quantitative importance in pediatric journals, with some bibliometic indicators that it is suitable to improve: low percentage of Originals with low statistical accessibility, and low insularity index.