Analysis of the scientific production of medical schools in central Peru

Abstract

Introduction: The scientific production of medical faculties in Peru is growing. However, its development is heterogeneous and mostly concentrated in the capital, leaving the provinces at a disadvantage.

Objective: To determine the scientific production of the Medical Faculties of Huancayo in the Scopus database for the period 2016-2023.

Method: Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, and bibliometric study. Through a documentary review using a systematic search strategy, publications from the period 2016-2023 were collected with affiliation to the medical faculties of Universidad Continental (UC), Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú (UNCP), and Universidad Peruana Los Andes (UPLA). A descriptive analysis and collaboration networks were conducted using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix.

Results: A total of 252 publications were obtained, with UC being the faculty with the highest publication. Scientific production showed an increase from 2020 onwards. The most frequent type of publication was the original article in all three institutions. The median number of authors was higher in UNCP with 2. The faculty with the highest number of citations (529), citations per year (66.13), citations per article (3.48), citations per author (105.84), and H-index (11) was UC. The frequent use of the Spanish language, the recurrent presence of Latin American journals, and collaboration with countries in the region were highlighted.

Conclusion: Scientific publications from the medical faculties of Huancayo are at a low level nationally; however, collaboration among these institutions and the obtained metrics stand out. It is expected that they will continue to progress on an upward trajectory.