Spanish scientific production in diagnostic and therapeutic research area of respiratory system in international journals from 1990 to 2002

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study were: to analyze the spanish production in diagnostic and therapeutics research area of respiratory system in international journals from 1990 to 2002. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Papers published in diagnostic and therapeutics area of respiratory system during this period of time were selected by the PUBMED system. We delimited the production with key words: respiratory system and the one that is used by the diagnostic and therapeutics research area. RESULTS: We obtain a total of 67 document published in international journals by spanish authors. The scientific production in the diagnostic and therapeutics area have stabilized in this 12 years period. The distribution of articles by the institutional affiliation and province of authors also showed a wide dispersion: Barcelona and Clinic and Provincial Hospital of Barcelona were responsible for 43.1% and 23.8% of all the production. Bronchoalveolar lavage and the use of telescopic catheter were the type of diagnostic and therapeutic procedure more productive. CONCLUSIONS: The scientific production in the diagnostic and therapeutics area of respiratory system have stabilized in this 12 years period, this evidence contrast with the high growth detected in respiratory system in general.