Cleft Lip and Palate Research Trends in Saudi Arabia: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

As Saudi Arabia advances in medical education and patient care, assessing its contribution to cleft lip and palate (CLP) research is vital. This bibliometric analysis aims to map the trends, collaborations, and impact of Saudi research in CLP. Utilizing the Web of Science database, this study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of CLP research related to Saudi Arabian publications. The analysis included data extraction and assessment of publications, citations, H-index, and international collaborations using advanced bibliometric tools and software. A total of 89 CLP-related articles in Saudi Arabia were retrieved. The findings indicated a steady increase in publications and citations over the years, reflecting growing interest and recognition of CLP's challenges in the Saudi healthcare context. King Abdulaziz University and King Saud University emerged as leading contributors. International collaboration was evident, with significant partnerships with countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, and others. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal and the Saudi Dental Journal were identified as the most influential journals in disseminating Saudi CLP research. The study highlights a positive growth trajectory in Saudi CLP research, marked by increased publications, citations, and international collaborations. It underscores the importance of continuous research and the need for enhanced efforts to further the understanding and treatment of CLP. Future studies should consider including a broader range of databases to provide a more comprehensive global view of CLP research trends.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis; cleft lip and palate; publication patterns; research trends; saudi arabia.

Figure 1. Authors with the Highest Number of Publications on CLP Articles Related to Saudi Arabia

Figure 2. Top 10 Academic and Research Institutions with the Most Saudi Publications on CLP

Figure 3. Journals with the Highest Number of Saudi Publications on CLP

Figure 4. Yearly Scientific Contribution and Trends in Publications on CLP Saudi Research

The chart shows the number of scientific articles published in Saudi Arabia on the topic of CLP over the years from 1990 to 2023.

Figure 5. Average Citation Trends Over Time for Publications on CLP Research from Saudi Arabia

This figure presents the average number of citations received per year for publications related to CLP that were authored/co-authored by Saudi researchers.

Figure 6. Collaboration Network of Institutions that have Collaborated on CLP Research in Saudi Arabia

The figure shows a network of institutions that have collaborated on CLP research in Saudi Arabia. The nodes in the network represent the institutions; the size of the nodes and opacity of the institution name are proportional to the number of publications that the institution has produced on CLP. Image credits: The authors used Biblioshiny to create the figure.

Figure 7. Co-citation Network of the Most Frequently Cited Journals in CLP Saudi Publications

The nodes in the map represent the journals, and the edges between the nodes represent the co-citation relationships between the journals. The size of the nodes is proportional to the number of times the journal has been cited, and the thickness of the edges is proportional to the strength of the co-citation relationship between the journals. Image credits: The authors used VOSviewer to create the figure.

Figure 8. Countries with Collaborations on CLP Research Publications from Saudi Arabia

World map visualization with countries color-coded according to countries with collaborations with Saudi Arabia in CLP research. Countries that have coauthored publications with Saudi researchers are colored blue on the map, and the darker shades of blue represent countries that have more extensive collaboration with Saudi Arabia in CLP research. Image credits: The authors used Biblioshiny to create the figure, edited by Khalid N. Alturki.