Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of the medical and biological pain research literature in the European Union: A 2006 snapshot

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study analyzed 2443 papers published in 2006 by European Union authors on pain-related research. Five EU countries (the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and France) each published > 200 papers while three countries (Cyprus, Malta and Estonia) published none; socio-economic indicators were related to each country’s productivity. The 2443 papers were published in 592 journals and Cephalalgia, Pain and European Journal of Pain were the most prolific. Publications were also analyzed for intra- versus inter-EU/non-EU collaborations and subdisciplines profiles in Clinical Medicine and the Life Sciences for the World, USA, EU and the top-four EU countries were compared.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Airaksinen, O., Brox, J. I., Cedraschi, C., Hildenbrandt, J., Klaber-Moffett, J., Kovacs, F., Mannion, A. F., Reis, S., Staal, J. B., Ursin, H., Zanoli, G. (2006), COST B13 Working group on guidelines for chronic low back pain. Chapter 4. European Guidelines for the management of chronic non-specific low back pain, European Spine Journal, 15(2): S192–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banchoff, T. (2002), Institutions, inertia and European Union research policy, Journal of Common Market Studies, 40(1): 1–21.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Banos, J-E., Ruiz, G., Guardiola, E. (2001), An analysis of articles on neonatal pain Publisher from 1965 to 1999, Pain Research Management, 6(1): 45–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassols, A., Bosch, F., Campillo, M., Canellas, M., Banos, J-E. (1999), An epidemiological comparison of pain complaints in the general population of Catalonia (Spain), Pain, 83: 9–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belinchon, I., Ramos, J. M., Sanchez-Yus, E., Bettloch, I. (2004), Dermatological scientific production from European Union authors (1987–2000), Scientometrics, 61(2): 271–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berardelli, A., Barberini, I., Defazio, G., Mancardi, G. L., Messina, C. (2005), Neurological research in Italy in 2003 and 2004, Neurological Sciences, 26: 189–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borghouts, J. A. J., Koes, B. W., Vondeling, H., Bouter, L. M. (1999), Cost-of-illness of neck pain in The Netherlands in 1996, Pain, 80: 629–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breivik, H., Collett, B., Ventafridda, V., Cohen, R., Gallacher, D. (2006), Survey of chronic pain in Europe: Prevalence, impact on daily life, and treatment, European Journal of Pain, 10: 287–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, D. H., Nakamura, Y., Chapman, R. C. (2005), National Institutes of Health grant awards for pain, nausea, and dyspnea research: An assessment of funding patterns in 2003, Journal of Pain, 6(5): 277–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruusgaard, D., Cimmino, M. A., Heliovaara, S., Hazes, M. Dreinhofer, K. (2003), Musculoskeletal problems and functional limitation. 92pp. (http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_projects/2000/monitoring/fp_monitoring_2000_frep_01_en.pdf) accessed on January 3rd, 2008.

  • Clarke, A., Gatineau, M., Grimaud, O., Royer-Devaux, S., Wyn-Roberts, N., Le Bis, I., Lewison, G. (2007), A bibliometric overview of public health research in Europe, European Journal of Public Health, 17(Suppl 1): 43–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, A. M., Smith, B. H., Penny, K. I., Smith, W. C., Chambers, W. A. (1999), The epidemiology of chronic pain in the community, The Lancet, 354: 1248–1252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullen, B., Hurley, D. A., Power, C., Canavan, D., O’keffe, D. (2006), The need for a national strategy for chronic pain management in Ireland, Irish Journal of Medical Sciences, 175(2): 68–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Rio, F., Serrano, S., Dorgham, A., Alvarez-Sala, R., Ruiz-Pena, A., Pino, J. M., Alvarez-Sala, J. L., Vilamor, J. (2001), A bibliometric evaluation of European Union research of the respiratory system from 1987–1998, European Respiratory Journal, 17: 1175–1180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gatchel, R. J., Peng, Y. B., Fuchs, P. N., Peters, M. L., Turk, D. C. (2007), The biospychosocial approach to chronic pain: scientific advances and futures directions, Psychological Bulletin, 133(4): 581–624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gil-Montoya, J. A., Navarette-Cotes, J., Pulgar, R., Moya-Anegon, F. (2006), World dental research production: an ISI database approach (1999–2003), European Journal of Oral Sciences, 114: 102–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W. (2000), Science in Scandinavia: A bibliometric approach, Scientometrics, 48(2): 121–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W. (2001), National characteristics in international scientific-co-authorship relations, Scientometrics, 51(1): 69–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W., Debackere, K., Meyer, M. (2008), “Triad” or “tetrad”? On global changes in a dynamic world, Scientometrics, 74(1): 71–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glänzel, W., Schubert, A., Braun, T. (2002), A relational charting approach to the world of basic research in twelve science fields at the end of the second millennium, Scientometrics, 55(3): 335–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goudas, L. C., Bloch, R., Gialeli-Goudas M., Lau, J., Carr, D. B. (2005), The epidemiology of cancer pain, Cancer Investigation, 23: 182–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grossi F., Belvedere, O., Rosso, R. (2003), Geography of clinical cancer research publications from 1995 to 1999. European Journal of Cancer, 39: 106–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inonu, E. (2003), The influence of cultural factors on scientific production, Scientometrics, 56(1): 137–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koleva, D., Krulichova, I., Bertolini, G., Caimi, V., Garattini, L. (2005), Pain in primary care: an Italian survey, European Journal of Public Health, 15(5): 475–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanteri-Minet, M., Auray, J-P., El-Hasnaoui, A., Dartigues, J-F., Duru, G., Henry, P., Lucas, C., Pradalier, A., Chazot, G., Gaudin, A-F. (2003), Prevalence and description of chronic daily headache in the general population in France, Pain, 102: 143–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarides, M. K., Nikolopoulos, E. S., Antoniou, G. A., Georgiadis, G. S., Simopoulos, C. E. (2007), Publications in vascular journals: contribution by country, European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 34: 243–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewison, G., Devey, M. E. (1999), Bibliometric methods for the evaluation of arthritis research. Rheumatology, 38: 13–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Illescas, C., De Moya-Anegon, F., Moed, H. F. (2008), The actual citation impact of European oncological research, European Journal of Cancer, 44(2): 228–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mela, G. M., Mancardi, G. L. (2002) Neurological research in Europe, as assessed with a four-year overview of neurological science international journals. Journal of Neurology, 249: 390–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mela, G. M., Martinoli, C., Poggi, E., Derchi, L. E. (2003), Radiological research in Europe: a bibliometric study, European Radiology, 13: 657–662.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mela, G. S., Cimmino, M. A., Ugolini, D. (1999), Impact of oncology research in the European Union, European Journal of Cancer, 35(8): 1182–1186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merrill, R. L. (2007), Central mechanisms of orofacial pain, Dental Clinic of North America, 51(1): 45–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millan, M. J. (2002), Descending control of pain, Progress in Neurobiology, 66: 355–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, A., Lynd, F. E. (2005), Where does research occur in geriatrics and gerontology?, Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 53: 1058–1063.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olesen, J., Lekander, I., Andin-Soboski, P., Jonsson, B. (2007), Funding of headache research in Europe, Cephalalgia, 27: 995–999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pradalier, A., Auray, J-P., El-Hasnaoui, A., Alzahouri, K., Dartigues, J-F., Duru, G., Henry, P., Lanteri-Minet, M., Lucas, C., Chazot, G., Gaudin, A-F. (2004), Economic impact of migraine and other episodic headaches in France, Pharmacoeconomics, 22(15): 985–999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, M., Sakamoto, J., Fukui, T. (2003), Share of research output in dermatology: a quantitative ranking, British Journal of Dermatology, 149: 218–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos J. M., Gutierrez, F., Masia, M., Martin-Hidalgo, A. (2004), Publication of European union research on infectious diseases (1991–2001): A bibliometric evaluation, European Journal of Clinical and Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 23: 180–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert, C., Arreto, C.-D., Gaudy, J.-F., Wilson, C. S. (2007), Utilization of the c-fos immunohistochemical method: a 2004 quantitative study. Neurological Sciences, 28(5): 287–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert, C., Caillieux, N., Wilson, C. S., Gaudy, J-F., Arreto, C-D. (2008a), World orofacial pain research production: A bibliometric study (2004–2005), Journal of Orofacial Pain, 22(3): 181–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robert, C., Wilson, C. S., Donnadieu, S., Gaudy, J-F., Arreto, C-D. (2008b), Bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on pain research: A 2006 study, Pain, 138(2): 250–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robert, C., Wilson, C. S., Gaudy, J-F., Arreto, C-D. (2006), A snapshot of EU publications in sleep research: A scientometric survey, Scientometrics, 67(3): 385–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soteriades, E. S., Falagas, M. E. (2005), Comparison of amount of biomedical research originating from the European Union and the United States, British Medical Journal, 331: 192–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strassels, S. C., Carr, D. B., Meldrum, M., Cousins, M. J. (1999), Toward a canon of the pain and analgesia literature: A citation analysis, Anesthesia and Analgesia, 89: 1528–1533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terajima, K., Åneman, A. (2003), Citation classics in anesthesia and pain journals: a literature review in the era of the internet, Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavia, 47: 655–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ugolini, D., Cimmino, M. A., Casilli, C., Mela, G. S. (2001), How the European Union write about ophthalmology, Scientometrics, 52(1): 45–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ugolini, D., Puntoni, R., Perera, F. P., Sculte, P. A., Bonassi, S. (2007), A bibliometric analysis of scientific production in cancer molecular epidemiology, Carcinogenesis, 28(8): 1774–1779.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Tulder, M., Becker, A., Bekkering, T., Breen, A., Del Real, M. T., Hutchinson, A., Koes, B., Laerum, E., Malmivaara, A. (2006), COST B13 Working Group on Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain in Primary Care. Chapter 3. European Guidelines for the management of acute low back pain in primary care, European Spine Journal, 15(2): S169–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Laboratoire d’Anatomie Fonctionnelle, Université Paris Descartes, 1 rue Maurice Arnoux, 92 120, Montrouge, France

    Claude Robert, Jean-François Gaudy & Charles-Daniel Arreto

  2. School of Information Systems, Technology and Management, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Concepción S. Wilson

  3. Unité de Traitement de la Douleur, Hopital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France

    Stéphane Donnadieu

Authors
  1. Claude Robert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Concepción S. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stéphane Donnadieu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jean-François Gaudy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Charles-Daniel Arreto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claude Robert.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Robert, C., Wilson, C.S., Donnadieu, S. et al. Analysis of the medical and biological pain research literature in the European Union: A 2006 snapshot. Scientometrics 80, 693–716 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-008-2102-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-008-2102-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation