Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Systematic reviews can be very useful decision making tools because they objectively summarize large amounts of information, identify gaps in medical research and identify beneficial or harmful interventions. The number of citations an article receives after its publication reflects its impact on the scientific community. There have been a few recent attempts to identify and analyze the 'most cited articles' in various specialties. This is an update of a previous analysis of the top cited Cochrane systematic reviews which we reported two years ago.
Objectives: To identify the 100 most cited Cochrane systematic reviews (CSR). To assess whether or not citation classics exist in CSR and to examine characteristics of frequently cited CSR.
Methods: 100 most frequently cited CSR were identified using the database of the Science Citation Index of the Institute for Scientific Information in April 2011.
Results: The most cited CSR received 174 citations, and the least-cited CSR received 33 citations. Six CSR were cited more than 100 times. These CSR were published between 2005 and 2009. The 100 originated from 19 countries (Figure 1), with the United Kingdom contributing 31 articles, followed by Canada (n =13), USA (n = 11) and Australia (n = 10). Obstetrics and gynaecology, cancer, diabetes mellitus, neuromuscular disease and smoking cessation were the main topics covered. Considerable attention was also given to asthma, dementia, chronic inflammatory disease, obesity and hypertension.
Conclusions: At present, only six CSR can be classified as a 'citation classic’ (with 100 or more citations). The United Kingdom, Canada, and United States have produced the greatest number of highly cited CSR.
Objectives: To identify the 100 most cited Cochrane systematic reviews (CSR). To assess whether or not citation classics exist in CSR and to examine characteristics of frequently cited CSR.
Methods: 100 most frequently cited CSR were identified using the database of the Science Citation Index of the Institute for Scientific Information in April 2011.
Results: The most cited CSR received 174 citations, and the least-cited CSR received 33 citations. Six CSR were cited more than 100 times. These CSR were published between 2005 and 2009. The 100 originated from 19 countries (Figure 1), with the United Kingdom contributing 31 articles, followed by Canada (n =13), USA (n = 11) and Australia (n = 10). Obstetrics and gynaecology, cancer, diabetes mellitus, neuromuscular disease and smoking cessation were the main topics covered. Considerable attention was also given to asthma, dementia, chronic inflammatory disease, obesity and hypertension.
Conclusions: At present, only six CSR can be classified as a 'citation classic’ (with 100 or more citations). The United Kingdom, Canada, and United States have produced the greatest number of highly cited CSR.
Images
