@article{Odone_Salvati_Bellini_Bucci_Capraro_Gaetti_Amerio_Signorelli_2020, title={The runaway science: a bibliometric analysis of the COVID-19 scientific literature: How COVID-19 has changed academic publishing}, volume={91}, url={https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/10121}, DOI={10.23750/abm.v91i9-S.10121}, abstractNote={<p class="p1"><em>Background and aim of the work: </em>To reflect on content, trends and quality of scientific publishing on COVID-19. In particular, to report on the systematic screening, quantitative assessment and critical appraisal of the first 10,000 scientific papers published on COVID-19 and to compare how scientific outputs matched identified research priorities and public health needs. <em>Methods:</em> A comprehensive research strategy was developed to systematically retrieve on a daily basis all studies published on COVID-19. From included studies we extracted: bibliometric parameters, country of studies’ implementation and study design. We assigned papers to 25 a priori defined COVID-19-related topics and we described scientific outputs in relation to countries’ academic publishing ranking, as well as COVID-19 burden. <em>Results:</em> 10,000 scientific articles were published on COVID-19 between 20<sup>th</sup> January and 7<sup>th</sup> May 2020,<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>accounting for 2.3% of total scientific production over the study period. One third (33%) focused on COVID-19 clinical management, with little adherence to identified research priorities. <span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Over sixty per cent of papers were opinion pieces not reporting original data. Papers were published on 1881 different journals but with half of scientific production included in 8% of journals. The US accounted for one fourth of total scientific production, followed by China (22.2%) and Italy (9%). <em>Conclusions: </em>Never before in the history of academic publishing such a great volume of research focused on a single topic, this being likely to introduce major changes in the way science is produced and communicated, at the risk of<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>bringing it far from its ultimate aim: informing clinical and public health practice and decision making.</p>}, number={9-S}, journal={Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis}, author={Odone, Anna and Salvati, Stefano and Bellini , Lorenzo and Bucci, Daria and Capraro , Michele and Gaetti, Giovanni and Amerio, Andrea and Signorelli, Carlo}, year={2020}, month={Jul.}, pages={34–39} }