Joseph Lopez1, Nicholas Calotta2, Ankur Doshi2, Ashwin Soni3, Jacqueline Milton4, James W May5, Anthony P Tufaro2. 1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: jlopez37@jhmi.edu. 2. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. 3. Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. 4. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. 5. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine and characterize the scientific and nonscientific factors that influence the rate of article citation in the field of plastic surgery. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: We reviewed all entries in Annals of Plastic Surgery and Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007; and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008. All scientific articles were analyzed and several article characteristics were extracted. The number of citations at 5 years was collected as the outcome variable. A multivariable analysis was performed to determine which variables were associated with higher citations rates. RESULTS: A total of 2456 articles were identified of which only 908 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most studies were publications in the fields of reconstructive (26.3%) or pediatric/craniofacial (17.6%) surgery. The median number of citations 5 years from publication was 8. In the multivariable analysis, factors associated with higher citations rates were subspecialty field (p = 0.0003), disclosed conflict of interest (p = 0.04), number of authors (p = 0.04), and journal (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: We have found that higher level of evidence (or other study methodology factors) is not associated with higher citation rates. Instead, conflict of interest, subspecialty topic, journal, and number of authors are strong predictors of high citation rates in plastic surgery.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine and characterize the scientific and nonscientific factors that influence the rate of article citation in the field of plastic surgery. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: We reviewed all entries in Annals of Plastic Surgery and Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007; and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008. All scientific articles were analyzed and several article characteristics were extracted. The number of citations at 5 years was collected as the outcome variable. A multivariable analysis was performed to determine which variables were associated with higher citations rates. RESULTS: A total of 2456 articles were identified of which only 908 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most studies were publications in the fields of reconstructive (26.3%) or pediatric/craniofacial (17.6%) surgery. The median number of citations 5 years from publication was 8. In the multivariable analysis, factors associated with higher citations rates were subspecialty field (p = 0.0003), disclosed conflict of interest (p = 0.04), number of authors (p = 0.04), and journal (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: We have found that higher level of evidence (or other study methodology factors) is not associated with higher citation rates. Instead, conflict of interest, subspecialty topic, journal, and number of authors are strong predictors of high citation rates in plastic surgery.
Keywords:
Medical Knowledge; Professionalism; Systems-Based Practice; academic productivity; bibliometrics; citation rate; conflicts of interest; level of evidence; plastic surgery
Authors: Carter J Boyd; Jason J Patel; Edgar Soto; Srikanth Kurapati; Kimberly D Martin; Timothy W King Journal: J Surg Res Date: 2020-04-10 Impact factor: 2.192