Mueller PS, Murali NS, Cha SS, Erwin PJ, Ghosh AK "The effect of online status on the impact factors of general internal medicine journals " NETHERLANDS JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 64 (2): 39-44 FEB 2006

[Eugene Garfield]

Title: The effect of online status on the impact factors of general
internal medicine journals

Author(s): Mueller PS, Murali NS, Cha SS, Erwin PJ, Ghosh AK

Source: NETHERLANDS JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 64 (2): 39-44 FEB 2006

Document Type: Article
Language: English
Cited References: 23      Times Cited: 0

Abstract:
Background:
We sought to determine the effects of becoming available online on impact
factors of general medicine journals.

Methods: Through MEDLINE with an institutional subscription, the 2004
online status of "Medicine, General and Internal" journals listed in the
Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) journal Citation Reports (JCR)
was classified as full text on the Net (FUTON), abstract only, or no
abstract available (NAA)/unavailable in MEDLINE. Similarly, through use of
a home computer without an institutional subscription, the 2004 online
status of the same journals was determined. For each journal, impact
factors for 1992 to 2003 were obtained.

Results: Of the 102 "Medicine, General and Internal" journals listed in the
ISI JCR, 71 (70%) existed in both pre-Internet (1992) and Internet (2003)
eras. Of these 71 journals, those available as FUTON in 2004 had higher
median impact factors than non-FUTON journals in 1992 (p < 0.0001) and 2003
(p < 0.0001). journals that became available online, at least partially,
had significant increases in median impact factors from 1992 to 2003 (p <
0.0001 for journals that became available as FUTON and for journals that
provided an abstract only). However, journals that became available as
FUTON had a greater increase in median impact factor from 1992 to 2003 than
other journals (p=0.002). Similar results were obtained using impact factor
data according to journal online status through use of a home computer
without an institutional subscription and for English-language journals
only.

Conclusion: Becoming available online as FUTON is associated with a
significant increase in journal impact factor.

Addresses: Mueller PS (reprint author), Mayo Clin & Mayo Fdn, Div Gen
Internal Med, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin & Mayo Fdn, Div Gen Internal Med, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin & Mayo Fdn, Div Biostat, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
Mayo Clin & Mayo Fdn, Med Lib, Rochester, MN 55905 USA

Publisher: VAN ZUIDEN COMMUNICATIONS, HENRY DUNANTWEG 40A, 2402 NR ALPHEN
AAN DE RIJN, NETHERLANDS
Subject Category: MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL
IDS Number: 032XP

ISSN: 0300-2977

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