title: Citation Rate Predictors in the Plastic Surgery Literature.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: jlopez37@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Ankur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doshi
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milton
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tufaro
mesh_terms: D000076363:Academic Success; D015706:Bibliometrics; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008374:Manuscripts, Medical as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011642:Publications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D014481:United States
keywords: Medical Knowledge; Professionalism; Systems-Based Practice; academic productivity; bibliometrics; citation rate; conflicts of interest; level of evidence; plastic surgery