Stefano Negrini1, William Levack, Francesca Gimigliano, Chiara Arienti, Jorge Hugo Villafañe, Carlotte Kiekens. 1. From the Clinical and Experimental Sciences Department, University of Brescia, Italy (SN); IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy (SN, CA, JHV); Otago University, Auckland, New Zealand (WL); Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Napoli, Italy (FG); Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (CK); and Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (CK).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the rate of publication of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis in physical and rehabilitation medicine and its variation over time. DESIGN: We performed a bibliometric study and searched PubMed from inception to 2017, using National Library of Medicine 3rd level MeSH terms ("rehabilitation," "physical therapy modalities," and "drug therapy") and filters ("randomized controlled trial," "systematic reviews," and "meta-analysis"). We used descriptive statistics, and we calculated the best-fitting regression model for all data considered. RESULTS: The absolute number of articles is growing in rehabilitation as much as in other treatment fields such as drug therapy. Whereas the rate of growth of publications for all studies relative to PubMed is bigger for drug therapies than for rehabilitation and physical therapy, the rate of growth of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis is significantly greater for rehabilitation and physical therapy (P < 0.001). In 2017, 19.3% and 28.2% of the total production of scientific articles for rehabilitation and physical therapy (respectively) were for randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews versus 11.3% for drug therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Production of the highest form of research evidence (randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis) is continuously increasing in physical and rehabilitation medicine at a higher rate than in other treatment fields such as drug therapy. The quality and results of this evidence should be evaluated in future studies.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the rate of publication of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis in physical and rehabilitation medicine and its variation over time. DESIGN: We performed a bibliometric study and searched PubMed from inception to 2017, using National Library of Medicine 3rd level MeSH terms ("rehabilitation," "physical therapy modalities," and "drug therapy") and filters ("randomized controlled trial," "systematic reviews," and "meta-analysis"). We used descriptive statistics, and we calculated the best-fitting regression model for all data considered. RESULTS: The absolute number of articles is growing in rehabilitation as much as in other treatment fields such as drug therapy. Whereas the rate of growth of publications for all studies relative to PubMed is bigger for drug therapies than for rehabilitation and physical therapy, the rate of growth of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis is significantly greater for rehabilitation and physical therapy (P < 0.001). In 2017, 19.3% and 28.2% of the total production of scientific articles for rehabilitation and physical therapy (respectively) were for randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews versus 11.3% for drug therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Production of the highest form of research evidence (randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis) is continuously increasing in physical and rehabilitation medicine at a higher rate than in other treatment fields such as drug therapy. The quality and results of this evidence should be evaluated in future studies.
Authors: Walter R Frontera; Gerold Stucki; Julia P Engkasan; Gerard E Francisco; Christoph Gutenbrunner; Nazirah Hasnan; Jorge Lains; Yusniza Mohd Yusof; Stefano Negrini; Zaliha Omar; Linamara Rizzo Battistella; Gwen Sowa; Henk Stam; Jerome Bickenbach Journal: Am J Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2022-06-28 Impact factor: 3.412
Authors: Iona Novak; Anna Te Velde; Ashleigh Hines; Emma Stanton; Maria Mc Namara; Madison C B Paton; Megan Finch-Edmondson; Catherine Morgan Journal: Front Rehabil Sci Date: 2021-10-05