Sleeping beauties in pediatrics

J Med Libr Assoc. 2016 Oct;104(4):313-314. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.104.4.012.

Abstract

Sleeping beauties (SBs) in science have been known for few decades; however, it seems that only recently have they become popular. An SB is a publication that "sleeps" for a long time and then almost suddenly awakes and becomes highly cited. SBs present interesting findings in science. Pediatrics research literature has not yet been analyzed for their presence, and 5 pediatrics SBs were discovered in this research. Their prevalence was approximately 0.011%. Some environments or periods are more "SB fertile" than others: 3 of 5 SBs were published in the journal Pediatrics, 4 originated from the United States, and 4 were published in the period from 1992 to 1993. No institutions or authors published more than 1 SB.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Humans
  • Journal Impact Factor
  • Pediatrics* / statistics & numerical data
  • Periodicals as Topic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Time Factors