A Comparative Study of Indexed Articles on Diabetes by Middle Eastern Scholars in the Web of Science from 2010 to 2019 using the Indicators of Ideational Influence and Social Influence

Diabetes, as one of the most common metabolic diseases, causes the death of a large number of people every year. It is predicted that the prevalence of this disease in the Middle East region will increase significantly by 2030. For this reason, this study has been conducted to compare the results of research conducted in the field of diabetes by researchers from the Middle East countries in the Web of Science database during 2010-2019 with indicators of intellectual and social influence.Intellectual influence, in the sense of the use of research results, is determined by calculating contemporary H, G, and H indices. Social influence is also calculated in terms of identifying authors and collaborations between them. This concept is identified through the calculation of co-authorship and also the indicators of degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality.

The current study is applied research. The indicators of intellectual influence and social influence of the Middle East countries and institutions in the field of diabetes were investigated using social network analysis. The community of this research includes articles indexed in the Web of Science database related to the authors of the Middle East countries in the field of diabetes from 2010 to 2019. Excel, BibExcel, and Pajek software have been used to calculate the indicators of intellectual influence and social influence.

The findings showed that Turkey was the most prolific country in the field of diabetes in the Middle East, with 6701 articles. Iran was in second place, with 5746 articles. Therefore, only two countries from the Middle East have more than 5000 articles during this period. Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt were also in the third to fifth positions with 3327, 3062, and 2950 articles, respectively.Based on the total score of indicators of intellectual and social influences, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and Egypt have been ranked first to fifth. Active countries in the field of diabetes in the Middle East are Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, respectively. Iran had the largest share (40%) of organizations with 8 institutions among the top 20 institutions in the Middle East in terms of the number of publications. Israel had 4 institutions (20%), Saudi Arabia 2 institutions (10%), Turkey 3 institutions (15%), and Egypt 3 institutions (15%). With 1470 articles, the Tehran University of Medical Sciences was ranked first among the top 20 institutions in the Middle East in terms of the number of articles in the field of diabetes between 2010 and 2019.However, based on the analysis, it was found that Israel has the first rank in the total scores of the three indicators H, G, and contemporary H. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran were ranked second to fourth among the Middle East countries in the field of diabetes, with the total intellectual influence score of 215, 205, and 203 respectively.The total score of the social influence indicators (the total score of degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality) of 20 top institutions and universities in the Middle East in terms of the number of articles in the field of diabetes indicates that the universities of Hajat Tepe, Mansoura and Tehran University of Medical Sciences ranked first to third with total social influence index of 296, 275 and 267 respectively.According to what was said, the existence of four countries, Iran, Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, in the top position of the major indicators examined, has made them among the prominent countries of the Middle East region in the field of investigation.

In conclusion, it can be said that influential researchers, establishing scientific cooperation, the existence of infrastructure and advanced research centers, a more favorable economic situation, and the focus of some countries, including Iran, to achieve self-sufficiency and scientific improvement compared to other countries in the region can be considered influential factors in this field.