Citation characteristics of basic science research publications in general surgical journals.
BACKGROUND
Basic science research (BSR) publications in general surgical (GS) journals are an important "translational bridge" for practicing surgeons and surgical trainees. The purpose of this study is to characterize the BSR publications in GS journals and to analyze their citation frequencies.


METHODS
In 1996, all (224) BSR publications in the five highest rated U.S. GS journals (by impact factor) were reviewed, characterized, and their citation frequencies were compared to BSR publications in non-GS journals.


RESULTS
On average, a BSR publication from these journals is cited 32 times (range 1-141, median 11). Half of the publications were cited more than 10 times in 6 years and 22% were cited twice, or more, within 1 year of publication. One in four publications were cited twice or more in journals with an impact factor greater than five. Citation frequencies of BSR publications in GS journals were related to the journal impact factor (P = 0.07), and to having a basic scientist (i.e., Ph.D.) as one of the authors (P < 0.01). Citation characteristics of BSR publications in GS journals were similar to those of BSR publications in non-GS journals with similar impact factors.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that BSR publications in the U.S. GS journals studied had significant citation frequencies.
Adusumilli
Prasad S
PS
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Chan
Mei-Ki
MK
Ben-Porat
Leah
L
Mullerad
Michael
M
Stiles
Brendon M
BM
Tuorto
Scott
S
Fong
Yuman
Y
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*