Bibliometric analyses of biomedical research outputs in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates 1988-2007

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the role of bibliometric methods in representing quantitative and qualitative differences in biomedical research outputs in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates UAE.

METHODS: Data on biomedical research productivity for years 1988-2007 were obtained from PubMed then imported into a specifically designed local database system and normalized to the population size for each country.

RESULTS: Data reveal a continuous increase in research production in Lebanon, whereas a plateau phase is observed in the UAE between 1998 and 2007. In Lebanon, most of the citations originated from the capital city of Beirut, mainly the American University of Beirut. Detailed analysis of biomedical research objectives in Lebanon indicate a focus on internal medicine, anesthesiology, surgery, transplantation, medical genetics, pediatrics, obstetrics, neoplasms, and pain management. In the UAE, most of the biomedical publications originate from Al-Ain University. Detailed analysis of biomedical research objectives in the UAE indicate developed interest in pediatrics, obstetrics, clinical dysmorphologies, transplantation, dermatology, diabetes, and consanguinity.

CONCLUSION: Biomedical research outputs quickly recovered in Lebanon following a long war 1974-1992 mainly supported by uninterrupted activities in private higher education institutes. In the UAE, the plateau phase for biomedical research output size could be due to the limitation of most of the research in the country to Al-Ain University. This situation may only improve when other institutes offering biomedical programs engage also in research activities.