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Review
. 2020 Dec;162(12):2939-2947.
doi: 10.1007/s00701-020-04477-5. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

The IDEAL framework in neurosurgery: a bibliometric analysis

Helen C U Ota  1 , Brandon G Smith  2 , Alexander Alamri  3 , Faith C Robertson  4 , Hani Marcus  5 , Allison Hirst  6 , Marike Broekman  6   7 , Peter Hutchinson  2 , Peter McCulloch  6 , Angelos Kolias  8   9
Affiliations
Review

The IDEAL framework in neurosurgery: a bibliometric analysis

Helen C U Ota et al. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Background: The Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment and Long-term study (IDEAL) framework was created to provide a structured way for assessing and evaluating novel surgical techniques and devices.

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to investigate the utilization of the IDEAL framework within neurosurgery, and to identify factors influencing implementation.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis of the 7 key IDEAL papers on Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases (2009-2019) was performed. A second journal-specific search then identified additional papers citing the IDEAL framework. Publications identified were screened by two independent reviewers to select neurosurgery-specific articles.

Results: The citation search identified 1336 articles. The journal search identified another 16 articles. Following deduplication and review, 51 relevant articles remained; 14 primary papers (27%) and 37 secondary papers (73%). Of the primary papers, 5 (36%) papers applied the IDEAL framework to their research correctly; two were aligned to the pre-IDEAL stage, one to the Idea and Development stages, and two to the Exploration stage. Of the secondary papers, 21 (57%) explicitly discussed the IDEAL framework. Eighteen (86%) of these were supportive of implementing the framework, while one was not, and two were neutral.

Conclusion: The adoption of the IDEAL framework in neurosurgery has been slow, particularly for early-stage neurosurgical techniques and inventions. However, the largely positive reviews in secondary literature suggest potential for increased use that may be achieved with education and publicity.

Keywords: Evidence; IDEAL framework; Innovation; Neurosurgery; Research; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

PH is supported by a Research Professorship from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, an NIHR Senior Investigator award, a European Union Seventh Framework Program grant (CENTER-TBI; grant no. 602150), and the Royal College of Surgeons of England. AK is supported by a Clinical Lectureship, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

All other authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. A number of authors are affiliated with the IDEAL collaboration, and therefore have a professional relationship with an organization with non-financial interest in this subject matter.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagram outlining search strategy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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