Scientific Publication Productivity and Research Activities of Iraqi Pediatricians in the Field of Pediatric Nephrology: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Bibliometrics is increasingly used to assess the quantity and quality of scientific research output in many research fields throughout the world. This study aims to update Iraqi pediatricians’ research productivity in the field of nephrology using bibliometric methods and analysis of the contribution of Iraqi pediatricians to the field of pediatric nephrology literature. Methods: Papers published by Iraqi pediatricians’ in the field of pediatric nephrology were retrieved from “Web of Science” and “PubMed”. The number and types of papers and author’s h-index (Hirsch index) were analyzed. Papers published by researchers other than pediatricians such urologic surgeons and basic sciences researchers were not included in this study. Results: A total of 53 papers were found published in a total of 11 journals including Pediatric Nephrology, Therapy (Clinical practice), Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, Journal of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Urology, Clin Exp Nephrol, American Journal of Medical Genetics A, The Open Urology and Nephrology Journal and Acta Paediatrica, Archives of Disease in Childhood and Saudi Journal of Kidney Disease and Transplantation. The vast majority of papers, 49 (92.4 %) were published by Aamir Jalal Al-Mosawi. Only four our papers [Etiological and clinical patterns of childhood urolithiasis in Iraq (2005). Profile of renal diseases in Iraqi children: A single-center report (2015), Hypertension in hemodialyzed children (2016), The predictive factors for relapses in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (2016)] were published by authors other than Aamir Jalal Al-Mosawi and was carefully examined and found to include unreliable, non-authentic and largely misleading information. The work of Aamir Jalal Al-Mosawi represented the authentic reliable source about childhood renal disorders in Iraq. The work of Aamir Jalal Al-Mosawi provided a comprehensive knowledge about childhood renal disorders in Iraqi children. The papers of Aamir Jalal Al-Mosawi included 12 research papers, 2 case report, one case series, three review articles and at least 31 conferences’ abstracts. Conclusion: Aamir Jalal Al-Mosawi is perfectly regarded as the undisputable pioneer of pediatric nephrology in Iraq.