Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Scientific Publications of Iran University of Medical Sciences during 1980-2020

In this research, all the scientific publications of the Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) from 1980 to 2020 are studied using bibliometric analysis and scientific network visualization. This research applied quantitative research using bibliometrics and visualization of scientific publications. The research population included all the scientific publications of IUSM on the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) from 1980 to 2020. Data from the WOSCC were extracted via the advanced search by searching the Iran University of Medical Sciences in the affiliation field. Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer were used for data analysis. First, the frequency distribution of the scientific publications was identified. Then, the level of international collaborations was analyzed. Finally, the citation clusters of researchers’ scientific publications and keyword co-occurrence were examined. IUMS had 9950 documents indexed in the WOSCC.  Malekzadeh jointly ranked first as the most prolific author. The Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, with 207 articles, has the highest number of articles. All highly-cited papers were published in high-level Q1 journals. The highest collaboration rate at a national level was with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Internationally, IUMS’s researchers had the highest collaboration with authors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, respectively. Term clustering demonstrated five main clusters: pharmacological studies, epidemiological studies, general and internal medicine, meta-analysis and systematic review, and Immunological studies. The methods and techniques of bibliometrics and visualization are optimal for depicting and analyzing the scientific status of researchers, publications, journals, universities, countries, and even the world. The current study can be a model for analyzing bibliometric indices of other universities and research institutes in Iran and elsewhere.