Surgical research in Ecuador: A bibliometric analysis of the quality of scientific production (2015-2025)

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the quality of scientific production in the surgical field in Ecuador. Methodology: Analytical bibliometric study using non-probability convenience sampling. Articles published between 2015 and 2025, indexed in Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, were included. Boolean operators and thematic filters were applied for the search. Data were processed using Excel and STATA v19, applying descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses through chi-square (χ²), Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests, considering p < 0,05 as statistically significant. Results: A total of 528 articles were identified, with a predominance of general surgery. Most were case reports and case series, primarily written in English. The majority were open-access publications without reported funding. Authorship was predominantly male. Quito had the highest scientific output, with Universidad San Francisco de Quito standing out. The journal quartile was significantly associated with the author's gender (p = 0,002), international collaboration (p < 0,001), funding (p < 0,001), and citation count (p = 0,015). The United States emerged as the main international collaborator. Conclusion: Although surgical research in Ecuador has grown significantly, low-quality studies still predominate. Strengthening international networks, funding mechanisms, and policies that promote scientific quality is essential to foster more robust, inclusive, and globally recognized surgical research.