Abstract :
Objective: To determine and disclose publications from Turkey that have contributed most “genuinely” to medicine in the past 40 years. Method: Based on data from the Web of Science, 100 publications originating from Turkey’s institutions were identified as having received by June, 2011, the greatest number of citations. Papers having more than a minor share by international authors were excluded. Results: Eighty-three primary authors generated 100 medical papers, each receiving 82 (95% GA 83; 230) citations. These articles, cited herein, were in the top 1% to 6% papers in the world. Half of the articles were published in 1994-2002. An estimated 10-12 such highly cited papers are produced currently in Turkey annually which represent only a global share of 0.5 per mille. The rate of rise registered in the period 1995-2005 may be anticipated not to persist later. Internal medicine, led by rheumatology, hematology and cardiology, and neurosciences were represented above the average. Health issues encountered more widely than in other populations, headed by Behçet’s disease, were the most frequent topics. Conclusion: Results are unsatisfactory compared with the potential of Turkey. A concerted and much greater effort is needed to rebuild an environment that focuses on promoting research with a potential for contributing to medicine.
