Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify (1) core journals in the literature of physical therapy, (2) currency of references cited in that literature, and (3) online databases providing the highest coverage rate of core journals. Data for each cited reference in each article of four source journals for three years were recorded, including type of literature, year of publication, and journal title. The journal titles were ranked in descending order according to the frequency of citations and divided into three zones using Bradford's Law of Scattering. Four databases were analyzed for coverage rates of articles published in the Zone 1 and Zone 2 journals in 2007. Journal articles were the most frequently cited type of literature, with sixteen journals supplying one-third of the cited journal references. Physical Therapy was the most commonly cited title. There were more cited articles published from 2000 to 2007 than in any previous full decade. Of the databases analyzed, CINAHL provided the highest coverage rate for Zone 1 2007 publications. Results were similar to a previous study, except for changes in the order of Zone 1 journals. Results can help physical therapists and librarians determine important journals in this discipline.
Highlights
IntroductionAccording to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapy (referred to as physiotherapy in many other countries) is ‘‘a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function’’ [1]
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapy is ‘‘a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function’’ [1]
One of APTA’s ‘‘Goals That Represent the Priorities of the American Physical Therapy Association’’ states that ‘‘Research advances the science of physical therapy and furthers the evidence-based practice of the physical therapist’’ [2]
Summary
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapy (referred to as physiotherapy in many other countries) is ‘‘a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function’’ [1]. A search of MEDLINE on the subject ‘‘Physical Therapy’’ for a 10-year period (2000–2009) indicates a growing knowledgebase, with the number of articles indexed each year more than doubling. This growth has often occurred without translation into clinical practice [5,6,7,8,9]. Knowing which journals and databases are the most efficient and most utilized sources of information relevant to patient management and care can help physical therapists incorporate more evidence into their practice. Knowledge of core journals in a discipline is helpful to librarians so
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