Investigation of authors’ self-citation in contemporary forensic odontology literature

Abstract

This bibliometric investigation aimed to analyze trends in author self-citation within prominent forensic odontology literature and explore potential correlations between self-citation rates and publication attributes. We reviewed seven leading forensic sciences journals from 2003 to 2023. For this analysis, we focused on two specific timeframes: 2003–2007 and 2018–2023. Our review encompassed original research articles, reviews, and case reports. Eligible articles underwent detailed examination for article and author attributes and citation metrics. Utilizing univariable and multivariable negative binomial regression analyses, we explored potential associations between the number of self-citations and various publication characteristics. This study analyzed 415 articles related to forensic odontology, of which 237 (57.1%) included at least one self-citation. Key findings highlight prevalent topics such as dental age estimation and human dental identification. A significant portion of the studies involved prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional designs, and there has been a notable increase in the number of reviews and meta-analyses in recent years compared to an equivalent past period. Self-citation was observed in over half of the analyzed articles, with a median total citation count of 31 and a median self-citation rate of 7.5%. Further bibliometric investigation is required to establish definitive conclusions regarding author self-citation patterns in forensic odontology literature, particularly by exploring longer time spans.