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. 2018 Jan;39(1):127-132.
doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001637.

Publishing Trends in Otology and Neurotology

Ryan Boerner  1 , Jonathan L Hatch  1 , Elizabeth Harruff  2 , Shaun A Nguyen  1 , Habib G Rizk  1 , Ted A Meyer  1 , Paul R Lambert  1 , Theodore R McRackan  1
Affiliations

Publishing Trends in Otology and Neurotology

Ryan Boerner et al. Otol Neurotol. 2018 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: 1) Describe publishing trends for otologic/neurotologic disorders over a 35-year span. 2) Compare trends in publishing with disease prevalence. 3) Evaluate changes in topic and journal specific ranking scores over time.

Methods: PubMed searches were performed on 35 otologic/neurotologic disorders using medical subject headings (MeSH) terms from 1980 to 2015. Searches were limited in scope to the English language. A Mann-Kendall trend analysis evaluated changes in publication frequency as a discrete variable while correcting for total number of articles published per year. Scopus was used to identify SCImago Country and Journal Rank (SJR) indicator scores and weighted-averages used to calculate changes over time.

Results: The total number of publications on the 35 topics increased from 853 in 1980 to a peak of 3,068 in 2013. Otitis media (τ = -0.799, p < 0.001) and Menière's disease (τ = -0.724, p < 0.001) showed strong decreasing publication trends. Temporal bone encephaloceles (τ = 0.743, p < 0.001) and cochlear implants (τ = 0.740, p < 0.001) showed strong increasing publication trends. Rapid rise in publications on superior canal dehiscence and vestibular migraine illustrate novel diagnoses. The weighted-average SJR score increased from 0.816 in 2000 to 1.160 in 2015 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study displays trends in the literature over the past 35 years that are often inconsistent with common disorders seen by otologists/neurotologists. Certain diagnoses that are currently being researched less commonly continue to impact patients with the same regularity. Quality of otologic/neurotologic literature has become more reputable with regards to SJR scores.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Displays the four otologic and neurotologic disease topics with the greatest decreasing relative publication frequency over the previous 35 years when compared to the total number of yearly publications from the 35 topics reviewed.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Displays selected examples of otologic and neurotologic disease topics with increasing relative publication frequency over the previous 35 years when compared to the total number of yearly publications from the 35 topics reviewed.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A. Displays the 10 otologic and neurotologic topics with decreasing relative publication frequency over the previous 35 years. B. Displays the 5 topics with no change in relative publication frequency. C. Displays the 20 topics with increasing relative publication frequency.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Displays changes in SJR scores from 2000 to 2015 for the five otologic and neurotologic topics reviewed showing the greatest increase in SJR scores from 2000 to 2015. These include MD (p < .001), Mastoiditis (p = .031), Aural Atresia (p < .001), Middle Ear Implant (p = .047), and Auditory Neuropathy (p = .035).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Displays the top six journals from which publications regarding the 35 reviewed otologic and neurotologic topics are published in and their associated SJR ranking for the years 2000 to 2015.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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