ABS: Cromer, Research articles published in the jurnal of adolescent health: A two decade comparison

[Gretchen Whitney]

 Email: bcromer at metrohealth.org


Title   :       Research articles published in the journal of adolescent
health: A two decade comparison.
Author  :       Cromer B, Stager M
Journal :       JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH  26 (2): 86-86 FEB 2000

 Document type: Meeting Abstract    Language: English       Cited
References: 0    Times Cited: 1


Addresses:
Case Western Reserve Univ, Sch Med, Metrohlth Med Ctr, Cleveland, OH USA

Publisher:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC, NEW YORK

IDS Number:
285NZ

ISSN:
1054-139X

RESEARCH ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH:
A TWO DECADE COMPARISON
B. Cromer, M. Stager.  MetroHealth Medical Center,
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
________________________________


        Purpose: To examine changes in subject contents and study designs,
as well as impact on other journals, of research articles published in the
Journal of Adolescent Health since its inception. Methods:  A retrospective
review of all research articles was conducted from selected years ranging
from 1980 through 1998. The study sample comprised the following: Original
Articles, Case Reports, Brief Scientific Reports, International Articles,
Fellowship Forum and Health Briefs.

        Results: A total of 582 articles were evaluated. The total
percentage of medical topics in research articles published in the journal
decreased from 61% in 1980-1981 to 36% in 1997-1998 (p<0.01). For example,
topics related to physical growth and development dropped from 9% of all
research articles in 1980-1981 to 1% in 1997-1998, and contents related to
acute or chronic medical conditions dropped from 15% to 5% over the same
period of time. These findings were in contrast to topics related to
psychosocial issues, which increased from 23% to 50% (p<0.01) over the same
period of time. This increase was largely accounted for by studies focusing
on high-risk behavior. Retrospective designs, including case reports/series
and chart reviews, decreased from 26% of all research articles in 1980-1981
to 9% in 1997-1998 (p<0.01).  The percentage of observational studies, i.e.,
those utilizing cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, increased from 62%
to 79% over the same period of time
        (p<0.01). No changes were observed in the percentage of experimental
designs, never exceeding >5% of total study designs. The number of citations
per year, i.e., articles from the journal cited in other scientific journals
over the following two years, continued to increase (55 in 1987, 92 in 1992,
206 in 1996) with the total cumulative sum of citations being 1274 (1997
data).

        Conclusion: In the Journal of Adolescent Health, a shift in subject
content of research articles from medical to psychosocial topics was
observed over the past two decades. A shift in research designs from
retrospective to observational was observed over the same period of time.
Citations in other joumals increased over the lifetime of this journal.


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