Tobacco Control: Visualisation of Research Activity Using Density-Equalizing Mapping and Scientometric Benchmarking Procedures

Bianca Kusma,Tobias Welte,Beatrix Groneberg-Kloft,Tanja C Fischer,Cristian Scutaru,David Quarcoo

doi:10.3390/ijerph6061856

Abstract

Background:Tobacco smoking continues to be a major preventable cause of death and disease and therefore tobacco control research is extremely important. However, research in this area is often hampered by a lack in funding and there is a need for scientometric techniques to display research efforts.Methods:The present study combines classical bibliometric tools with novel scientometric and visualizing techniques in order to analyse and categorise research in the field of tobacco control.Results:All studies related to tobacco control and listed in the ISI database since 1900 were identified by the use of defined search terms. Using bibliometric approaches, a continuous increase in qualitative markers such as collaboration numbers or citations were found for tobacco control research. The combination with density equalizing mapping revealed a distinct global pattern of research productivity and citation activity. Radar chart techniques were used to visualize bi- and multilateral research cooperation and institutional cooperation.Conclusions:The present study supplies a first scientometric approach that visualises research activity in the field of tobacco control. It provides data that can be used for funding policy and the identification of research clusters.

Highlights

The 20th century has witnessed the birth and development of a dangerous new epidemic: in the last50 years, due to the constant rise in tobacco consumption, tobacco smoke has become an important health hazard in numerous countries [1,2]
A number of 1,846 “tobacco control” related articles were identified in the Web of Science database
While previous bibliometric studies have assessed research in the field of tobacco in general [15,16], the present study focuses on the area of tobacco control using a combination of novel visualizing tools such as density equalizing mapping and classic bibliometric tools such as publication and citation analysis

Summary

Introduction

50 years, due to the constant rise in tobacco consumption, tobacco smoke has become an important health hazard in numerous countries [1,2] In this respect it has become clear that nicotine is the leading substance concerning the development of the addiction [3]. Tobacco smoking continues to be a major preventable cause of death and disease and tobacco control research is extremely important. Research in this area is often hampered by a lack in funding and there is a need for scientometric techniques to display research efforts. The combination with density equalizing mapping revealed a distinct global pattern of research

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion