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. 2022 Mar 21;15(1):23.
doi: 10.1186/s13047-022-00528-5.

Diabetes-related foot disease research in Aotearoa New Zealand: a bibliometric analysis (1970-2020)

Matthew Carroll #  1 , Ibrahim Saleh Al-Busaidi #  2 , Kirsten J Coppell  3 , Michele Garrett  4 , Belinda Ihaka  5 , Claire O'Shea  6 , Justina Wu  6 , Steve York  7
Affiliations

Diabetes-related foot disease research in Aotearoa New Zealand: a bibliometric analysis (1970-2020)

Matthew Carroll et al. J Foot Ankle Res. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this bibliometric study was to examine trends in the quality and quantity of published diabetes-related foot disease (DRFD) research in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) over the past five decades.

Method: In July 2021, the Scopus® database was searched for DRFD-related publications (1970-2020) using predetermined search and inclusion criteria. Bibliometric data were extracted from Scopus® and Journal Citation Reports. Retrieved bibliometric indicators were analysed in Biblioshiny, an R Statistical Software interface and reported using descriptive statistics.

Results: Forty-seven DRFD-related articles were identified. The annual number of publications showed a significant upward trend increasing from one in 1988 to a peak of six in 2018 (P < 0.001). The majority of identified articles (n = 31, 66%) were published in the last decade (2011-2020). Basic/clinical research accounted for 87% (n = 41) of publications and 14 (30%) investigated the screening and/or prevention of DRFD. The average citation per article was 20.23 (range: 0-209) and the median impact factor was 4.31 (range, 1.82-79.32). Over a third of articles (36%) had an international authorship network. Funding was reported in 15 (32%) articles; 12 (26%) were supported by public national grants vs. three (6%) reporting industry-sponsorship.

Conclusion: DRFD articles authored by NZ researchers have increased over the past five decades. Despite NZ researchers having increased their global impact through collaborative networks, most of the research was classified as low-level evidence, with limited focus on Indigenous Māori and limited financial support and funding. Increased funding for interventional research is required to enable a higher level of evidence-based and practice-changing research to occur. With rates of diabetes-related amputations higher in Māori future research must focus on reducing inequalities in diabetes-related outcomes for Māori by specifically targeting the prevention and screening of DRFD in primary care settings in NZ.

Keywords: Aotearoa New Zealand; Bibliometric analysis; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes-related foot disease; Diabetic foot; Research.

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Conflict of interest statement

Matthew Carroll an Editorial Board member of the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. All other co-authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart for the search and retrieval process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Graph showing the cumulative number and number of new articles of Aotearoa New Zealand diabetes-related foot disease-related publications per year between 1988 and 2020)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Graph showing authorship networks between 1988 and 2020
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Visual representation of international collaborative authorship networks
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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