[Bibliometric study of the original articles published in the Revista Española de Salud Pública (1991-2000). I. General indicators].

Background: For some time, the most of reports have been being disseminated by way of scientific journals, bibliometric studies therefore being fundamental to the characterization and evaluation thereof. The purpose of this study is that of characterizing the Revista Española de Salud Pública based on the original articles published therein throughout the 1991-2000 period.

Methods: Original articles published in the Revista Española de Salud Pública throughout the 1991-2000 period, all inclusive. A study has been made of the following variables: number of original articles, collaboration index or number of signing authors per study, productivity index, geographical spread and main subject.

Results: Throughout the 1991-2000 period, 290 original studies (52.3%) of a total of 555 studies were published. The number of originals averaged 29 originals/year A 4.5 degree of collaboration was found to exist for this journal (number signing authors/number originals) for the period under study. The annual of originals by Autonomous Community reveals in the Autonomous Community of Madrid (20.7%), Autonomous Community of Valencia (16.4%), Andalusia (16.1%) and Catalunya (10.0%) have published studies every year throughout the ten-year period under study. The most prevalent subject of all was that related to "Communicable disease" (86 originals), Primary Health Care" (34) and "Environmental pollution" (21).

Conclusions: Generally speaking, it apparently follows that the Revista Española de Salud Pública continues to fall within the output-related indicators of other Spanish and foreign journals and that it has also evolved in keeping with the trend proper of scientific output in the biomedical field. Although "Communicable diseases" are not the main cause of mortality, they continue being the main subject more frequently studied.