Murali NS, Murali HR, Auethavekiat P, Erwin PJ, Mandrekar JN, Manek NJ, Ghosh AK "Impact of FUTON and NAA bias on visibility of research" MAYO CLINIC PROCEEDINGS 79 (8): 1001-1006 AUG 2004

[Eugene Garfield]

FULL TEXT AVAILABLE AT :
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/inside.asp?AID=611&UID=


Title: Impact of FUTON and NAA bias on visibility of research

Author(s): Murali NS, Murali HR, Auethavekiat P, Erwin PJ, Mandrekar JN,
Manek NJ, Ghosh AK

Source: MAYO CLINIC PROCEEDINGS 79 (8): 1001-1006 AUG 2004

Cited References: 30

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether availability of journals on MEDLINE as FUTON
(full text on the Net) affects their impact factor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comprehensive search identified 324 cardiology,
nephrology, and rheumatology/immunology journals on-line until May 2003. The
status of these journals was ascertained in MEDLINE as having FUTON,
abstracts only, and NAA (no abstract available). Impact factors for all
available journals from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) were
abstracted.

RESULTS: Of the 324 journals, 124 (38.3%) were FUTON, 138 (42.6%) had
abstracts only, and 62 (19.1%) had NAA. The mean (+/-SEM) impact factor was
3.24 (+/-0.32), 1.64 (+/-0.30), and 0.14 (+/-0.45), respectively. Of the 324
current journals, 159 existed in both the pre- and the post-Internet era. An
analysis of the change (ie, delta) in impact factor from the pre- to
post-Internet era revealed a trend between journals with FUTON and abstracts
only (P = .17, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Similar analyses of the delta of
cardiology journals revealed a statistically significant difference between
journals with FUTON and abstracts only (P = .04, Wilcoxon rank sum test).

CONCLUSION: FUTON bias is the tendency to peruse what is more readily
available. This is the first study to show that on-line availability of
medical literature may increase the impact factor and that such increase
tends to be greater in FUTON journals. Failure to consider this bias may
affect a journal's impact factor. Also, it could limit consideration of
medical literature by ignoring relevant NAA articles and thereby influence
medical education akin to publication or language bias.

Addresses: Murali NS (reprint author), Mayo Clin, Coll Med, Div Nephrol &
Hypertens, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin, Coll Med, Div Nephrol & Hypertens, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin, Coll Med, Div Child & Adolescent Neurol, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin, Coll Med, Div Rheumatol & Internal Med, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin, Coll Med, Mayo Clin Lib, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin, Coll Med, Div Biostat, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin, Coll Med, Div Gen Internal Med, Rochester, MN 55905 USA

Publisher: MAYO CLINIC PROCEEDINGS, 660 SIEBENS BLDG MAYO CLINIC, ROCHESTER,
MN 55905 USA
Subject Category: MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL
IDS Number: 843HH
ISSN: 0025-6196

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