Evolution of Communities in the Medical Sciences: Evidence from the Medical Words Network.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Classification of medical sciences into its sub-branches is crucial for optimum administration of healthcare and specialty training. Due to the rapid and continuous evolution of medical sciences, development of unbiased tools for monitoring the evolution of medical disciplines is required.

Methodology/principal findings

Network analysis was used to explore how the medical sciences have evolved between 1980 and 2015 based on the shared words contained in more than 9 million PubMed abstracts. The k-clique percolation method was used to extract local research communities within the network. Analysis of the shared vocabulary in research papers reflects the trends of collaboration and splintering among different disciplines in medicine. Our model identifies distinct co

SUBMITTER: Shirazi AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5135137 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature