Predictors of citation rates for research publications in Neurosciences

Hasan Z. Jamjoom; Abdulhadi Y. Gahtani; Abdulhakim B. Jamjoom

doi:10.17712/nsj.2022.2.20210145

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Table 1

- Findings relating to several citation rate predictors in the selected Neurosciences publications.

Factors/Features	Articles (%)
*Duration from publication*
10 years	29(12.6)
9 years	26(11.3)
8 years	24(10.4)
7 years	22(9.5)
6 years	24(10.4)
5 years	25(10.8)
4 years	23(10)
3 years	28(12.1)
2 years	30(13)
*Study design*
RCTs	10(4.3)
Prospective	17(7.4)
MAs and SRs	12(5.2)
Experimental	27(11.7)
Cross-sectional	65(28.1)
Survey questionnaire	15(6.5)
Case control	14(6.1)
Retrospective case series	71(30.7)
*Study level of evidence (LOE)*
I	15(6.5)
II	18(7.8)
III	14(6.1)
IV	144(62.3)
Undermined	42(30.7)
*Study field*
Clinical	204(88.3)
Non-clinical	27(11.7)
*Publishing specialty*
Neurology	77(33.3)
Neurosurgery	34(14.7)
Psychiatry	24(10.4)
Pediatric neurology	19(8.2)
Rehabilitation	20(8.7)
Basic neuroscience	30(13)
Miscellaneous*	27(11.7)
*Publishing country*
KSA	91(39.4)
Turkey	48(20.8)
Iran	33(14.3)
China	25(10.8)
Miscellaneous**	34(14.7)
*Authors academic affiliation*
University	182(78.8)
Non-university	49(21.2)

*Miscellaneous specialties (27 articles) [Medicine (others): 7, Family and Community Medicine: 6, Radiology: 6, Public Health: 2, Anaesthesia: 2, Epidemiology: 2, Dentistry: 1, Nursing: 1].**Miscellaneous countries (34 articles) [Iraq: 7, Jordan: 6, India: 3, Kuwait: 2, Pakistan: 2. Egypt: 2, Brazil: 2, Oman: 1. Tunisia: 1, Morocco: 1, Nigeria: 1, Rwanda: 1, USA: 1, Canada: 1, Malaysia: 1, Taiwan: 1, Thailand: 1]

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Table 2

- Correlation analysis between citation numbers and findings relating to several predictors using pearson correlation coefficient (R).

Predictors	R-value	P-value
Duration from publication	0.3423	<0.0001*
Sample size	0.467	<0.0001*
Study design	-0.1408	0.0353*
Study Level of Evidence	-0.1428	0.03*
Study field	-0.0593	0.3696
Publishing specialty	0.0414	0.5313
Publishing country	0.0161	0.8077
Authors academic affiliation	0.0158	0.8112
Number of authors	-0.0141	0.8312
Number of centers	0.0489	0.4595
Number of references	0.0676	0.3063

*p-values ≤0.05 are significant

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Table 3

- Comparative analysis of the mean citation numbers (± SD) between the various subgroups in several predictors using mean difference (MD) test

Predictors/Variables	Articles Number	Mean Cites (±SD)	MD	P-value
*Duration from publication (years)*
2-5 years	106	5.8(±5.7)	10.6	<0.0001*
6-10 years	125	16.4(±17.5)
Sample size
≤91	110	9.1(±8.8)	-3.9	0.0359*
>91	112	13(±17.3)
*Study design*
RCTs	10	20.9(±14.3)	-9.8	0.035*
Other designs	221	11.1(±14.3)
Prospective	17	6.8(±8)	5.1	0.1621
Other designs	214	11.9(±14.8)
MAs and SRs	12	28.8(±37.6)	18.2	<0.0001*
Other designs	219	10.6(±11.5)
Experimental	27	9.8(±9.3)	2	0.5003
Other designs	204	11.8(±15)
Cross-sectional	65	11.2(±10.7)	0.5	0.8136
Other designs	166	11.7(±15.7)
Survey questionnaire	15	13.8(±11.5)	-2.4	0.534
Other designs	216	11.4(±14.6)
Case-control	14	14(±20.5)	-2.6	0.5146
Other designs	217	11.4(±14)
Retro- case series	71	8.5(±10)	4.4	0.0327*
Other designs	160	12.9(±15.9)
*Study level of evidence (LOE)*
I	15	24.1(±31.5)	-13.5	0.0004*
Other levels	216	10.6(±12)
II	18	7.1(±7.9)	4.9	0.1671
Other levels	213	12(±14.8)
III	14	14(±20.5)	-2.6	0.5146
Other levels	217	11.4(±14)
IV	144	10.6(±11.8)	2.6	0.1849
Other levels	87	13.2(±17.9)
Undetermined	42	11.2(±10.2)	0.4	0.8718
Other levels	189	11.6(±15.3)
*Study field*
Clinical	204	11.8(±15)	2	0.5003
Non-clinical	27	9.8(±9.3)

*p-values ≤0.05 are significant

Predictors/Variables	Articles Number	Mean Cites (±SD)	MD	P-value
*Publishing specialty*
Neurology	77	12(±17.6)	-0.6	0.7673
Other specialties	154	11.4(±12.7)
Neurosurgery	34	8.9(±7.8)	3.1	0.2496
Other specialties	197	12(±15.3)
Psychiatry	24	13(±10.8)	-1.6	0.6081
Other specialties	207	11.4(±14.8)
Pediatric neurology	19	13.4(±12.4)	-2	0.5636
Other specialties	212	11.4(±14.6)
Rehabilitation	20	4.7(±4)	7.5	0.0261*
Other specialties	211	12.2(±14.9)
Basic neurosciences	30	11.5(±9.7)	0.1	0.9718
Other specialties	201	11.6(±15)
Miscellaneous	27	16.4(±21.6)	-5.5	0.0635
Other specialties	204	10.9(±13.2)
*Publishing country*
KSA	91	11.4(±14.5)	0.2	0.9185
Other countries	140	11.6(±14.5)
Turkey	48	8.5(±10)	3.9	0.0956
Other countries	183	12.4(±15.3)
Iran	33	21.2(±23.4)	-11.2	<0.0001*
Other countries	198	10(±11.7)
China	25	9(±7.7)	2.9	0.343
Other countries	206	11.9(±15)
Miscellaneous	34	8.8(±6.8)	3.2	0.2353
Other countries	197	12(±15.4)
*Authors academic affiliation*
University	182	11.7(±15.3)	-0.5	0.8308
Non- university	49	11.2(±11.1)
*Number of authors*
≤5	150	11.8(±15.6)	-0.8	0.6889
>5	81	11(±12.1)
*Number of centers*
1	214	11.5(±14.7)	1.1	0.7635
>1	17	12.6(±11.4)
*Number of references*
≤25	117	10.2(±10.5)	2.8	0.1422
>25	114	13(±17.6)