CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH IN PEDIATRICS IN THE NETHERLANDS - EVALUATION ACCORDING TO SUBSPECIALITY OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD

The board of the Dutch Paediatric Association requested a survey of th e scientific research performed in all academic and non-academic paedi atric hospitals, authorized to train medical doctors in paediatrics in the Netherlands. Contributions to the international and the Dutch sci entific literature, in the form of regular publications, chapters in b ooks, contributions to proceedings and Ph.D. theses were counted over two 5-year periods, i.e. 1981-1985 and 1986-1990. The quality of publi cations in the international journals was assessed using the average i mpact factor of the journals over the 10-year period. The number of pu blications in the international literature doubled during the observat ion period 1986-1990 compared to the period 1981-1985. Nevertheless, t he quality of the publications remained the same. Metabolism, oncology /haematology, immunology/infectious diseases and cardiology are the su bspecialisations in which scientific research takes place in four or m ore academic paediatric hospitals. In total, 84 Ph.D. theses were, pro duced in which a paediatrician was either the project leader (mostly a professor in paediatrics) or the investigator-in-charge. Insight into structure and major research efforts of paediatric hospitals in other countries of Europe may lead to exchange of views and, maybe, profita ble co-operation.