A Biblometric Study of Toxicological Research Output (1996-2012) of the Middle East Region

Aims: The aim of the present study was to qualify and quantify the toxicological researches in the Middle East countries. Comparisons were made with the rest of the world.
Place and Duration of Study: The current study was carried out during the 1st of January to the 31st of December, 2013 in the department of toxicology and pharmacology, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Study design: This bibliometric study evaluates quantities and qualities of publications on toxicological researches in SJR for over 16 years (1996-2012).
Methodology: Strategy of the research was based on the keyword "toxicology". Neither language nor document type restrictions were considered. Data were extracted, tabulated, and compared to identify the ranks as well as trends. Additionally, comparisons were performed on the basis of ‘total number of documents’, ‘total number of citations’, ‘citations per documents’, “citable documents”, “cite-self cite per documents” , “H-index” , “self citation”, and international collaboration.
Results: Results showed an increase in the number of publications and citable documents in the Middle East. Northern America, Western Europe, and Asiatic regions led quantitative and qualitative indicators like H-index and citation. Comparisons among the Middle East countries showed Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates are the most productive countries, respectively. Although the Middle East productions of scientific publications on toxicology are neither qualitatively nor quantitatively comparable with other regions, the trend has changed quantitatively during 1996-2012. As a result, the Middle East countries have to support their scientific institutes to increase the quantities and qualities of toxicological publications.