Does the <i>h</i>-index and self-citation affect external funding of orthopedic surgery research? An analysis of fellowship directors and their subspecialties.

Ernat, Justin J; Yheulon, Christopher G; Lopez, Andrew J; Warth, Lucian C · J Orthop · 2020

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

Determine the impact of self-citation on external funding for orthopedic fellowship directors. The San Francisco Match's website identified directors encompassing 8 subspecialties. The Scopus database identified the number of publications, citations, and <i>h</i>-index for each director. <i>H</i>-index was assessed with/without self-citation. Mean publications, citations, self-citation rate, and <i>h</i>-index for the 446 directors were 71.2, 1816, 3.86%, and 18.3, respectively. Excluding self-citations reduces mean <i>h</i>-index to 18.0; and <i>h</i>-index changed by ≤ 1 integer in 95% of directors. Self-citation has minimal impact among fellowship directors and should not be adjusted for when considering external funding.