Diabetes-related foot disease research in Aotearoa New Zealand: a bibliometric analysis (1970-2020)

Matthew Carroll; Ibrahim Saleh Al-Busaidi; Kirsten J Coppell; Michele Garrett; Belinda Ihaka; Claire O'Shea; Justina Wu; Steve York

doi:10.1186/s13047-022-00528-5

Diabetes-related foot disease research in Aotearoa New Zealand: a bibliometric analysis (1970-2020)

J Foot Ankle Res. 2022 Mar 21;15(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s13047-022-00528-5.

Authors

Matthew Carroll^#¹, Ibrahim Saleh Al-Busaidi^#², Kirsten J Coppell³, Michele Garrett⁴, Belinda Ihaka⁵, Claire O'Shea⁶, Justina Wu⁶, Steve York⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. matthew.carroll@aut.ac.nz.
² Department of General Practice, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
³ Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
⁴ Community and Long Term Conditions Directorate, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁵ Department of Podiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁶ Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand.
⁷ High Risk Foot Clinic, Northland District Health Board, Whangarei, New Zealand.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this bibliometric study was to examine trends in the quality and quantity of published diabetes-related foot disease (DRFD) research in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) over the past five decades.

Method: In July 2021, the Scopus® database was searched for DRFD-related publications (1970-2020) using predetermined search and inclusion criteria. Bibliometric data were extracted from Scopus® and Journal Citation Reports. Retrieved bibliometric indicators were analysed in Biblioshiny, an R Statistical Software interface and reported using descriptive statistics.

Results: Forty-seven DRFD-related articles were identified. The annual number of publications showed a significant upward trend increasing from one in 1988 to a peak of six in 2018 (P < 0.001). The majority of identified articles (n = 31, 66%) were published in the last decade (2011-2020). Basic/clinical research accounted for 87% (n = 41) of publications and 14 (30%) investigated the screening and/or prevention of DRFD. The average citation per article was 20.23 (range: 0-209) and the median impact factor was 4.31 (range, 1.82-79.32). Over a third of articles (36%) had an international authorship network. Funding was reported in 15 (32%) articles; 12 (26%) were supported by public national grants vs. three (6%) reporting industry-sponsorship.

Conclusion: DRFD articles authored by NZ researchers have increased over the past five decades. Despite NZ researchers having increased their global impact through collaborative networks, most of the research was classified as low-level evidence, with limited focus on Indigenous Māori and limited financial support and funding. Increased funding for interventional research is required to enable a higher level of evidence-based and practice-changing research to occur. With rates of diabetes-related amputations higher in Māori future research must focus on reducing inequalities in diabetes-related outcomes for Māori by specifically targeting the prevention and screening of DRFD in primary care settings in NZ.

Keywords: Aotearoa New Zealand; Bibliometric analysis; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes-related foot disease; Diabetic foot; Research.

MeSH terms

Bibliometrics
Diabetes Mellitus*
Foot Diseases*
Humans
New Zealand
Publications