Walker, RL; Sykes, L; Hemmelgarn, BR; Quan, HD. 2010. Authors' opinions on publication in relation to annual performance assessment. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 10: art. no.-21

[Eugene Garfield]

Walker, RL; Sykes, L; Hemmelgarn, BR; Quan, HD. 2010. Authors' opinions on 
publication in relation to annual performance assessment. BMC MEDICAL 
EDUCATION 10: art. no.-21.

Author Full Name(s): Walker, Robin L.; Sykes, Lindsay; Hemmelgarn, Brenda R.; 
Quan, Hude
Language: English
Document Type: Article
KeyWords Plus: MEDICAL JOURNALS; HISTORY; IMPACT

Abstract: Background: In the past 50 years there has been a substantial 
increase in the volume of published research and in the number of authors per 
scientific publication. There is also significant pressure exerted on researchers 
to produce publications. Thus, the purpose of this study was to survey 
corresponding authors in published medical journals to determine their opinion 
on publication impact in relation to performance review and promotion.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey of corresponding authors of original research 
articles published in June 2007 among 72 medical journals. Measurement 
outcomes included the number of publications, number of authors, authorship 
order and journal impact factor in relation to performance review and 
promotion.
Results: Of 687 surveys, 478 were analyzed (response rate 69.6%). 
Corresponding authors self-reported that number of publications (78.7%), 
journal impact factor (67.8%) and being the first author (75.9%) were most 
influential for their annual performance review and assessment. Only 17.6% of 
authors reported that the number of authors on a manuscript was important 
criteria for performance review and assessment. A higher percentage of Asian 
authors reported that the number of authors was key to performance review 
and promotion (41.4% versus 7.8 to 22.2%). compared to authors from other 
countries.
Conclusions: The number of publications, authorship order and journal impact 
factor were important factors for performance reviews and promotion at 
academic and non-academic institutes. The number of authors was not 
identified as important criteria. These factors may be contributing to the 
increase in the number of authors per publication.

Addresses: [Walker, Robin L.; Sykes, Lindsay; Hemmelgarn, Brenda R.; Quan, 
Hude] Univ Calgary, Dept Community Hlth Sci, Calgary, AB, Canada; 
[Hemmelgarn, Brenda R.] Univ Calgary, Dept Med, Calgary, AB, Canada

Reprint Address: Quan, HD, Univ Calgary, Dept Community Hlth Sci, Calgary, 
AB, Canada.

E-mail Address: hquan at ucalgary.ca
ISSN: 1472-6920
DOI: 10.1186/1472-6920-10-21
fulltext: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/10/21