Lopez-Abente G, Munoz-Tinoco C "Time Trends in the Impact Factor of Public Health Journals" BMC PUBLIC HEALTH 5: Art. No. 24 MAR 18 2005

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Addresses: glabente at isciii.es, cmunoz.hrc at salud.madrid.org

FULL TEXT AVAILABLE AT :
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-5-24.pdf

Title: Time trends in the impact factor of Public Health journals

Author(s): Lopez-Abente G, Munoz-Tinoco C

Source: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH 5: Art. No. 24 MAR 18 2005

Document Type: Article
Language: English
Cited References: 11      Times Cited: 0

Abstract:
Background: Journal impact factor (IF) is linked to the probability of a
paper being cited and is progressively becoming incorporated into
researchers' curricula vitae. Furthermore, the decision as to which journal
a given study should be submitted, may well be based on the trend in the
journal's overall quality. This study sought to assess time trends in
journal IF in the field of public, environmental and occupational health.

Methods: We used the IFs of 80 public health journals that were registered
by the Science Citation Index from 1992 through 2003 and had been listed for
a minimum period of the previous 3 years. Impact factor time trends were
assessed using a linear regression model, in which the dependent variable
was IF and the independent variable, the year. The slope of the model and
its statistical significance were taken as the indicator of annual change.

Results: The IF range for the journals covered went from 0.18 to 5.2 in
2003. Although there was no statistical association between annual change
and mean IF, most of the fastest growing journals registered mean IFs in
excess of 1.5, and some represented emerging areas of public health
research. Graphs displaying IF trends are shown.

Conclusion: In view of the delay between the publication of IFs and that of
any given paper, knowing the trend in IF is essential in order to make a
correct choice of journal.

Addresses: Lopez-Abente G (reprint author), Carlos III Inst Hlth, Natl Ctr
Epidemiol, Sinesio Delgado 6, Madrid, 28029 Spain
Carlos III Inst Hlth, Natl Ctr Epidemiol, Madrid, 28029 Spain
Ramon & Cajal Hosp Lib, Madrid, 28034 Spain

E-mail Addresses: glabente at isciii.es, cmunoz.hrc at salud.madrid.org

Publisher: BIOMED CENTRAL LTD, MIDDLESEX HOUSE, 34-42 CLEVELAND ST, LONDON
W1T 4LB, ENGLAND

IDS Number: 912DK
ISSN: 1471-2458

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