Evaluation of h-index in Academic Interventional Radiology

Abstract

This study evaluates the association of h-index, a widely used bibliometric factor used to determine promotions and grant allocations, with academic ranking, sex, and geographic distribution in the interventional radiology community. A database of all academic interventional radiologists in the US was created; academic rank, sex, institution, and geographic location were obtained. The Scopus database was used to determine the physicians' h-index. Our query identified 832 board-certified interventional radiologists. The mean h-index amongst all interventional radiologists was 10.81 ± 13.17 (median, 7; range, 0-167). H-indices were significantly different amongst assistant professors, associate professors, and professors (p < 0.0001). Our query identified 724 male interventional radiologists and 108 female interventional radiologists. The mean h-index amongst male interventional radiologists was 11.27 ± 13.69 (median, 7; range, 0-167) and amongst female interventional radiologists was 7.72 ± 8.33 (median, 5; range, 0-47). When stratified by rank, there was no statistically significant difference in h-index between male and female interventional radiologists. Multiple regression analysis identified sex is not significantly associated with h-index, but academic rank and region are. H-index in academic interventional radiology correlates significantly with faculty position and may be a factor in determining academic promotion. The sex-based differences in h-index seem to be due to the greater number of male faculty in senior academic positions who have been in the field for longer.