Bibliometric analysis of radiology residency theses in Türkiye: publication metrics and trends

This study aimed to conduct the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of radiology residency theses in Türkiye, evaluating publication rates, indexing characteristics, citation performance, and key factors associated with successful thesis-to-publication conversion. This retrospective study included 3,136 radiology residency theses completed between 1971 and December 2024, retrieved from the National Thesis Center. Data were collected on the thesis topic, advisor title, institution type, and study design. Publication status was assessed through searches using author and advisor names and keywords across Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, TR Index, and DergiPark. For published articles, the journal name, indexing category, impact factor quartile, citation count, and time to publication were recorded. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, the chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, and regression models (a P value of <0.05 was considered significant). Most theses were from university hospitals (83.1%) and supervised by professors (45.8%). A total of 1,165 theses (37.1%) were published as journal articles, of which 651 (20.8% of all theses) appeared in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)-indexed journals. Among the SCIE publications, 39.2% were in Q3 or Q4 journals. The most frequent thesis topics were neuroradiology (16.0%) and abdominal radiology (13.3%), whereas imaging physics and radiation safety was least represented (1.6%). Publication rates significantly increased over time (P = 0.045), and time to publication decreased (P < 0.001), with a median of 1,300 days. Theses supervised by assistant professors had the highest publication rate (43.0%, P = 0.013). University-based theses received more citations than those from training and research hospitals (P < 0.001). Residency students were first authors in 76.4% of publications. Articles with the advisor or another researcher as the first author were more frequently published in SCIE journals (P < 0.001), received more citations (P < 0.001), and had shorter time to publication (P < 0.001). Approximately one-third of radiology theses in Türkiye are published, with a notable share in SCIE-indexed journals. Thesis publication performance has improved significantly over time. This study highlights the publication potential of radiology residency theses and reveals key factors associated with research visibility. Recognizing these trends may help guide institutional policies, promote academic mentorship, and encourage residents to pursue higher-impact publications. Residency theses should be regarded as integral components of scholarly activity, rather than solely as graduation requirements.