Rethlefsen, ML; Wallis, LC Public health citation patterns: an analysis of the American Journal of Public Health, 2003-2005 JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 95 (4): 408-415 OCT 2007

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: mlrethlefsen at gmail.com; l-wallis at neiu.edu 

Author(s): Rethlefsen, ML (Rethlefsen, Melissa L.); Wallis, LC (Wallis, 
Lisa C.) 

Title: Public health citation patterns: an analysis of the American 
Journal of Public Health, 2003-2005 

Source: JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 95 (4): 408-415 OCT 
2007 

Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Keywords Plus: BIBLIOGRAPHIC IMPACT-FACTOR; BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS; 
RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY; INFECTIOUS-DISEASES; MEDICINE JOURNALS; INFORMATION 
USE; TRENDS; FIELD; LIST
 
Abstract: Objectives: The research sought to determine the publication 
types cited most often in public health as well as the most heavily cited 
journal titles.

Methods: From a pool of 33,449 citations in 934 articles published in the 
2003-2005 issues of American Journal of Public Health, 2 random samples 
were drawn: one (n = 1,034) from the total set of citations and one (n = 
1,016) from the citations to journal articles. For each sampled citation, 
investigators noted publication type, publication date, uniform resource 
locator (URL) citation (yes/no), and, for the journal article sample, 
journal titles. The cited journal titles were analyzed using Bradford 
zones.

Results: The majority of cited items from the overall sample of 1,034 
items were journal articles (64.4%, n = 666), followed by government 
documents (n 130), books (n = 122), and miscellaneous sources (n = 116). 
Publication date ranged from 1826-2005 (mean = 1995, mode = 2002). Most 
cited items were between 0 and 5 years old (50.3%, n = 512). In the sample 
of 1,016 journal article citations, a total of 387 journal titles were 
cited.

Discussion: Analysis of cited material types revealed results similar to 
citation analyses in specific public health disciplines, including use of 
materials from a wide range of disciplines, reliance on miscellaneous and 
government documents, and need for older publications. 

Addresses: Mayo Clin Lib, Rochester, MN 55905 USA; NE Illinois Univ, 
Ronald Williams Lib, Chicago, IL 60625 USA 

Reprint Address: Rethlefsen, ML, Mayo Clin Lib, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, 
MN 55905 USA. 

E-mail Address: mlrethlefsen at gmail.com; l-wallis at neiu.edu 

Cited Reference Count: 43 

Times Cited: 1 

Publisher: MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOC 

Publisher Address: 65 EAST WACKER PLACE, STE 1900, CHICAGO, IL 60601-7298 
USA 

ISSN: 1536-5050 

29-char Source Abbrev.: J MED LIBR ASSOC 

ISO Source Abbrev.: J. Med. Libr. Assoc. 

Source Item Page Count: 8 

Subject Category: Information Science & Library Science 

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