Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective:This study aims to assess the quality of articles published in the leading orthopedic surgery journals, by measuring the relation between the impact factor and the number studies with a high level of evidence.Methods:A literature review was performed of articles published in four previously selected journals. A score of journal evidence (RER - Relation between Randomized clinical trials and Systematic reviews) was calculated, considering the number of RCTs and SR published and the total number of full-text articles.Results:The selected journals were JBJS-Am, ASMJ, BJJ-Br and Arthroscopy, with Impact factors of 5.280, 4.362, 3.309 and 3.206 respectively in 2015. In the study, the RER Scores, in the same order, were 9.408, 6.153, 7.456 and 7.779.Conclusion:The journal JBJS-Am is the best available source of information on orthopedic surgery from this point of view. It has the highest Impact Factor and clearly the highest RER Score. On the other hand, we could conclude that the number of published RCT and good quality SR is very low, with less than 10% of all the articles. Level of evidence III, Analyses based on limited alternatives and costs, and poor estimates.
Highlights
An enormous number of articles are published annually by each orthopedic journal, which leads to a progressive increase of new information, new surgical techniques, updates of diseases and case reports that can be accessed
This study aims to assess the quality of articles published in the leading orthopedic surgery journals, by measuring the relation between the impact factor and the number studies with a high level of evidence
We could conclude that the number of published RCT and good quality SR is very low, with less than 10% of all the articles
Summary
An enormous number of articles are published annually by each orthopedic journal, which leads to a progressive increase of new information, new surgical techniques, updates of diseases and case reports that can be accessed. With too much data available in the literature, effective and judicious analysis of these data should be done in order to guide and complement surgeon’s decision-making process, defining the central point of practicing Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). It should involve integration of clinical expertise, patients’ perceptions and values, and the best available research evidence. Most of knowledge of orthopedic surgeons is based only on clinical experience of some experts.[1] Aiming for the best quality of information, students, researchers, clinical practitioners and surgeons may choose an article based on the journal according to its relevance, which can be measured by Impact Factor (IF). The IF shows indirectly the relevance and quality of the publications by a journal, and it is calculated by a relation between published articles and articles that are mentioned, quoted or cited in the biennium prior to the year in which the IF is calculated
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