Can Hirsch index predict academic rank among full-time academic orthopaedic shoulder surgeons?

Abstract

Background

Hirsch index (h-index) has emerged as a refined metric for research productivity, offering a better approximation of scholarly influence. The aim of this study was to assess whether h-index can predict academic rank among shoulder surgeons.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed for full-time academic shoulder surgeons affiliated with American Shoulder and Elbow-recognized shoulder and elbow surgery fellowship programs. Study variables for each surgeon were classified as bibliometric (h-index, m-index, total number of publications, total number of citations, I-10 index, and maximum number of citations from a single work) and demographic (gender, training factors). Outcomes included the academic rank of each surgeon.

Results

153 full-time academic shoulder surgeons were included. H-index, I-10 index, and the total number of publications and citations were all strongly correlated with academic rank, while maximum citations for a single work, m-index, and years as an attending were moderately correlated with academic rank. H-index most reliably demonstrated an association with increasing academic rank. The h-index thresholds for assistant professor, associate professor, professor, and endowed professor were found to be 12.5, 12.5, 19, and 32.5, respectively.

Discussion

When evaluating candidates for academic promotion in shoulder surgery, h-index is a reliable tool to quantitatively assess research productivity and scholarly impact.

Level of evidence

Survey Study.