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Cochrane systematic reviews in dentistry: an Altmetric and network analysis

British Dental Journal (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) play an important role in evidence-based decision-making. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the social impact of CSRs in dentistry and the inclusivity and diversity of researchers contributing to one of the largest databases in health care research.

Methodology The Altmetric and bibliometric data for CSRs in dentistry were obtained through Altmetric Explorer and the Dimensions database and were analysed to determine the trends. Furthermore, the correlation between the number of citations and the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) was identified using Spearman's correlation co-efficient.

Results Mendeley was found to be the most active Altmetric resource, followed by Twitter. The tweets were more popular among the members of the public (65.5%) and had a diverse geographic spread. The co-authorship network analysis revealed an overall dense network of researchers. In the co-citation network analysis, the Journal of Community Dentistry had the greatest influence. Moreover, a weaker correlation was noticed between the citation counts and AAS (rs=0.325; p <0.01).

Conclusion CSRs had a modest social impact in terms of AAS; however, the social network of contributing researchers was diverse and the researchers affiliated with the University of Manchester, UK were found to have the strongest link.

Key points

  • Provides valuable insight regarding the social impact of Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) in dentistry by utilising Altmetrics.

  • The scientific landscape of researchers contributing to the field of oral health care research is also highlighted to determine the inclusivity and diversity in research.

  • Moreover, the correlation between the number of citations and the Altmetric Attention Score of the CSR is identified.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Altmetric LLP (London, UK) for permitting complete no-cost access to their explorer. We would like to acknowledge Altmetric LLP (London, UK), Dimensions, Cochrane Library and VOS' support for permitting the utilisation of their respective databases/software and official logos for publication purposes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Resident, Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan

    Nighat Naved

  2. Associate Professor, Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan

    Fahad Umer

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  1. Nighat Naved
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  2. Fahad Umer
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Contributions

Nighat Naved contributed to conception, design, data acquisition and interpretation, performed all statistical analyses, and drafted and critically revised the manuscript. Fahad Umer contributed to the conception and design and critically revised the manuscript. All authors gave their final approval and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fahad Umer.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval was not obtained for this study since it utilised secondary data that were accessible and available publicly.

The data analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Naved, N., Umer, F. Cochrane systematic reviews in dentistry: an Altmetric and network analysis. Br Dent J (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6664-1

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