Bibliometric analysis of the scientific production of Dr. Antonio Vidal Mayorga (1895-1968), Revista Médica Hondureña

Abstract

Background: The Antonio Vidal Instituto of Infectious Diseases and Parasitology is commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of its creation (1993-2023). Objective: To perform a bibliometric analysis of the scientific production of Dr. Antonio Vidal Mayorga in the Revista Médica Hondureña (RMH). Methods: Bibliometric analysis and scoping review through digital searches in the Virtual Health Library of Honduras (https://honduras. bvsalud.org/) and the RMH (https://revistamedicahondurena.hn/), and physical archives of the Instituto Antonio Vidal. Articles were classified by type, year of publication, specific topic (communicable diseases, etiologic and vectorial agents, chronic noncommunicable diseases, others) and general topic (medical specialties, diseases, biographical reviews, and health care and public health activities, others). Results: In the first 18 years of RMH (1930-1947), Dr. Vidal published 79 articles: clinical case 19, opinion 18, original work 17, bibliographic reviews 11, reviews of journals 7 and books 2, editorials 5. The years with the highest number of publications were 1934 (10) and 1945 (16). The general topics with the highest number of publications were malaria (22) and nutritional deficiencies (9). His original observations with clinical characterizations, laboratory results and epidemiological observations in the field, including entomological observations, and opinion articles with proposals on the organization and administration of public health in the country are extraordinary. Discussion: Dr. Antonio Vidal Mayorga, an exemplary physician and teacher, stands out in the context of the era in which he lived. His work was driven by his ability to combine clinical, epidemiology, laboratory, public health, research, teaching, and social projection.