Korean J Prev Med.  2001 Aug;34(3):200-210.

Analysis of the Abstracts of Cancer Related Articles Published from 1990 to 1996 in Korea

• Kim CY
• Khang YH
• Lee YS
• Kang CW
• Yoo KY
• Kang G
• Ha BM

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To explore the status of cancer research in the Republic of Korea.
METHODS
Thirty-eight medical journals, published in Korea between 1990 and 1996, were reviewed for abstracts relating to cancer research. Of the 5,899 eligible abstracts related to cancer, 4,732 were collected and evaluated.
RESULTS
Including first author and first two co-authors, a total of 7,427 authors were identified. Those who published an average of one or more article per one year were defined as cancer researchers for this study. This group, however, accounted for a small proportion of the total (3.1%). Analysis of the selected abstracts showed that the study goals in more than half focused on pathophysiologic mechanisms. Studies that were designed to use causal relationships such as cohort studies and randomized controlled trials were rare. A greater number of analytic and experimental studies were found in abstracts published by the cancer researcher group. More advanced study designs that explored causal relationships and analytic procedures were found in abstracts published later than those abstracts published from 1990 to 1992.
CONCLUSION
Our findings show that researchers who published more articles adopted more advanced study designs. This study provides primary data that can be used to compare the status of cancer research in future studies.

Keyword

Research design; Researcher; Periodicals

MeSH Terms

Cohort Studies
Humans
Korea*
Republic of Korea
Research Design
Research Personnel