Andy Petroianu1. 1. Departamento de Cirugia da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. petroianu@medicina.ufmg.br
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The assessment of the publication of scientific works is a hard challenge when it is necessary to classify a curriculum vitae or even to verify the performance of an institution, such as a medical school, a postgraduate program or a research department. Most of time, the evaluation is based on personal feelings and experience, without established standard pattern. OBJECTIVE: To present a guideline to evaluate the publications of scientific papers, without foreign influence. METHODS: The guideline to assess the value of each publication is based on the multiplication of three factors. The first factor is the value of the author corresponding to his place among the authors in the authorship of the work. The second factor is the classification of the type of publication. Finally, the product of these two factors is multiplied by ten times the "impact factor" of the journal. When the "impact factor" is zero, 0.1 should substitute it. RESULTS: This method has been used by us since 1994, with good results and without any problem related to the judgment. CONCLUSION: This criterion prevents subjective interference. Conflicts of interest are avoided when clearly presented from the beginning of the judgment process.
BACKGROUND: The assessment of the publication of scientific works is a hard challenge when it is necessary to classify a curriculum vitae or even to verify the performance of an institution, such as a medical school, a postgraduate program or a research department. Most of time, the evaluation is based on personal feelings and experience, without established standard pattern. OBJECTIVE: To present a guideline to evaluate the publications of scientific papers, without foreign influence. METHODS: The guideline to assess the value of each publication is based on the multiplication of three factors. The first factor is the value of the author corresponding to his place among the authors in the authorship of the work. The second factor is the classification of the type of publication. Finally, the product of these two factors is multiplied by ten times the "impact factor" of the journal. When the "impact factor" is zero, 0.1 should substitute it. RESULTS: This method has been used by us since 1994, with good results and without any problem related to the judgment. CONCLUSION: This criterion prevents subjective interference. Conflicts of interest are avoided when clearly presented from the beginning of the judgment process.