[Analysis of the indexed scientific production of health researchers in the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET, Argentina)].

INTRODUCTION

Health Researcher career of National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) is an ad honorem career that allows entry of health professionals who, continuing with their healthcare practice, acquire rights and obligations of researchers with a paid career. To date, quantity and/or quality of the academic production of CONICET health researchers (ISC) is unknown. This research analyzes characteristics of ISCs, their scientific production, and some bibliometric indicators related to their scientific publications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 109 active researchers who make up the ISC staff until the 2020 call were identified. The quantity and bibliometric indicators of their publications that are indexed in MEDLINE until 12/31/2023 (affiliation, international contribution, authorships, type of publication) were analyzed. Likewise, quality indices of the journals (impact factor, CiteScore, and H indices, and Scimago Journal Rank) were evaluated.

RESULTS

a total of 109 ISCs recorded 6764 publications (63.6% in journals from United States and United Kingdom; 77.2% in quartile 1-2 journals), with an average of 4.1 publications/year/researcher in 2014 and 7.7 publications/researcher/year in 2023 (64% increase). A 77% were original research and other 11% were reviews. In 77% were led and in 74% were directed by researchers with Argentine affiliation, (43% had international collaboration); 12.2% were published in Spanish and 7.8% in journals from Argentina. The higher the rank of the researcher, the more publications are achieved in journals with better quality indices.

DISCUSSION

The volume of scientific publications in quality journals reflects an active and constant participation of the ISCs in the production and communication of scientific knowledge from Argentina.