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. 2020 Dec 15;7(12):293.
doi: 10.3390/children7120293.

Publication Trends of Pediatric and Adult Randomized Controlled Trials in General Medical Journals, 2005-2018: A Citation Analysis

Michael L Groff  1   2 , Martin Offringa  2   3   4   5 , Abby Emdin  2   6 , Quenby Mahood  7 , Patricia C Parkin  2   3   4   8 , Eyal Cohen  2   3   4   8   9
Affiliations

Publication Trends of Pediatric and Adult Randomized Controlled Trials in General Medical Journals, 2005-2018: A Citation Analysis

Michael L Groff et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Policy has been developed to promote the conduct of high-quality pediatric randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Whether these strategies have influenced publication trends in high-impact journals is unknown. We aim to evaluate characteristics, citation patterns, and publication trends of pediatric RCTs published in general medical journals (GMJs) compared with adult RCTs over a 13-year period. Studies were identified using Medline, and impact metrics were collected from Web of Science and Scopus. All RCTs published from 2005-2018 in 7 GMJs with the highest impact factors were identified for analysis. A random sample of matched pediatric and adult RCTs were assessed for publication characteristics, academic and non-academic citation. Citations were counted from publication until June 2019. Among 4146 RCTs, 2794 (67.3%) enrolled adults, 591 (14.2%) enrolled children, and 761 RCTs (18.3%) enrolled adult and pediatric patients. Adult RCTs published in GMJs grew by 5.1 publications per year (95% CI: 3.3-6.9), while the number of pediatric RCTs did not show significant change (-0.4 RCTs/year, 95% CI: -1.4-0.6). Adult RCTs were cited more than pediatric RCTs (median(IQR): 29.9 (68.5-462.8) citations/year vs. 13.2 (6.8-24.9) citations/year; p < 0.001); however, social media attention was similar (median(IQR) Altmetric Attention Score: 37 (13.75-133.8) vs. 26 (6.2-107.5); p = 0.25). Despite policies which may facilitate conduct of pediatric RCTs, the publishing gap in high-impact GMJs is widening.

Keywords: bibliometrics; child; clinical trials; journal impact factor; pediatrics; publication characteristics; publications; publishing; randomized controlled trials; social media.

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Conflict of interest statement

M.L.G. was awarded the Lunenfeld Summer Studentship stipend in support of this research. P.C.P. reports receiving a grant from Hospital for Sick Children Foundation during the conduct of the study. P.C.P. reports receiving the following grants unrelated to this study: a grant from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FRN # 115059) for an ongoing investigator-initiated trial of iron deficiency in young children, for which Mead Johnson Nutrition provides non-financial support (Fer-In-Sol® liquid iron supplement) (2011–2017); and peer-reviewed grants for completed investigator-initiated studies from Danone Institute of Canada (2002–2004 and 2006–2009), Dairy Farmers of Ontario (2008–2010). E.C. reports receiving a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FDN-143315). These agencies had no role in the design, collection, analyses or interpretation of the results of this study or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The other authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study selection flow diagram stratified by age group of study. RCTs: randomized controlled trials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of adult, pediatric, and mixed-age RCTs published per year from 2005–2018 in seven high-impact general medical journals (GMJs). Shaded areas represent 95% confidence bands for each linear regression.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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