OBJECTIVE: To establish the relative weight of the various kinds of primary health care (PHC) research collected in the IME (Spanish medical index), In order to determine their possible relationships with Spain's PHC model. DESIGN: Bibliometric analysis. PARTICIPANTS: PHC documents (1971-1994) from the IME data base (CD-ROM), subdivided by years, journals, themes and Autonomous Communities (AC). RESULTS: 3,015 studies were published, with a first phase (1970s) of under 10 documents per year, a second (1980s) with a big increase and a third (1990s) of stagnation. Of the 117 journals containing studies, Atención Primaria gave a home to almost 58% (60% after 1984). CONCLUSIONS: PHC research production has stagnated recently, though the journal Atención Primaria has maintained its undisputed leadership position. The clinical model predominant in Spanish medicine is generally followed.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the relative weight of the various kinds of primary health care (PHC) research collected in the IME (Spanish medical index), In order to determine their possible relationships with Spain's PHC model. DESIGN: Bibliometric analysis. PARTICIPANTS: PHC documents (1971-1994) from the IME data base (CD-ROM), subdivided by years, journals, themes and Autonomous Communities (AC). RESULTS: 3,015 studies were published, with a first phase (1970s) of under 10 documents per year, a second (1980s) with a big increase and a third (1990s) of stagnation. Of the 117 journals containing studies, Atención Primaria gave a home to almost 58% (60% after 1984). CONCLUSIONS: PHC research production has stagnated recently, though the journal Atención Primaria has maintained its undisputed leadership position. The clinical model predominant in Spanish medicine is generally followed.