Advanced investigational studies in paedriatrics in Chile: 1994-2003

Abstract

Introduction: The development of scientific research faces severe difficulties in Latin America, especially for those studies requiring more complex methodological designs. 

Objective: To analyze the clinical studies, performed in children or adolescents in Chile, published between 1994 and 2003.

Methods: Review of all papers with clinical studies phase III or IV available at the PUBMED database or at the national non ISI Journals between 1994-2003, studying children or adolescents under 18 years in Chile. 

Results: 82 papers were published, 71 in ISI journals and 11 in non ISI journals; 82% of these were carried out at Universities; 40 at the University of Chile, 16 at the Catholic University, 4 at the University of Santiago, 3 at the University of Valparaíso, 2 at the University of Concepción, 1 at the University La Frontera, and 1 at the Austral University. Other papers were published by the Vaccination Center, 6 by Paedriatric Public Hospitals, 2 by private clinics and 1 by the Familiar Planification Center. The paedriatric specialities more frequently associated with these publications were nutrition 17, endocrinology 11, respiratory diseases 10, vaccines 8, infectious diseases 6, neonatalogy 5, and gastroenterology 4. 

Conclusions: We conclude that the rate of clinical studies performed in Chile is low, they are mainly performed by Universities and established academic teams. Strategies to improve the magnitude of research are required.