Abstract
Importance: To provide a current evaluation of bibliometric
trends in the Otolaryngology literature focused on randomized controlled
trials (RCTs). RCTs hold an important role in research as bias
controlled assessments of clinical interventions. Objective:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the proportion of published
RCTs in the Otolaryngology literature. Design: Quality
Improvement scoping bibliometric review. Setting: Published
articles in eight Otolaryngology journals from January 1, 2016 -
December 31, 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Included
articles were categorized as a RCT, secondary research, other clinical
research, case report, primary basic science, or other study type.
Additionally, studies were categorized as American, Canadian, British,
or other international origin according to the corresponding author’s
institutional address. The proportion of published RCTs were compared by
national origin and to an earlier bibliometric analysis investigating
Otolaryngology journal publications from 2008-2012 using Pearson’s
Chi-Squared testing with Bonferroni correction. Results: A
total of 6797 articles were reviewed and included for analysis. There
was a significant difference in the proportion of RCTs published by
national origin, 1.3% USA, 2.2% Canada, 2.7% UK, 3.4% other (p
< 0.01). There was a significant decrease in the proportion of
RCTs published from 2008-12 to 2016-2020 (3.1% vs. 2.3% respectively,
p < 0.01). Conclusions: Although the current study
analyzed only a select sample of all Otolaryngology research output,
this study suggests that North American researchers are publishing less
RCTs than researchers in other countries. Moreover, RCTs are declining
as a proportion of the published Otolaryngology literature over time,
which is a threat to the evidence base for current and future
Otolaryngological practice.