Alternative to the Science Citation Index Impact Factor as an Assessment of Emergency Medicineʹs Scientific Contributions, ,

Study objective: The Science Citation Index “impact factor” is the only available quantitative estimate of a journalʹs scientific contributions. However, the derivation of this factor contains an intrinsic bias that underestimates the impact of emergency medicine journals. We wished to test the hypothesis that use of an alternative criterion standard would provide an improved profile of the scientific contributions of emergency medicine journals relative to those of other specialties. Methods: We used an observational, longitudinal, comparative design in which all Index Medicus citations from Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) publications were aggregated by journal and then stratified by specialty. Proportions and proportionate trends, relative to total citations, were reported by specialty, facilitating comparison of emergency medicine with other disciplines. Results: Among all eight ACLS publications (1974-1994) 4,062 citations met the inclusion criteria. Emergency medicine journals were referenced in 16% of eligible citations (99% confidence interval [CI], 14% to 17%), a figure exceeded only by internal medicine and cardiology journals. Emergency medicine was the only discipline to show a significant proportionate increase in contributions over the 20-year study period (P<.001 by χ2 for linear trend analysis). Conclusion: Contrary to the implications of a low impact factor, an analysis of journal citations in ACLS publications over two decades suggests that emergency medicine has made significant contributions to a broad and important area of scientific inquiry. [Barnaby DP, Gallagher EJ: Alternative to the Science Citation Index impact factor as an assessment of emergency medicineʹs scientific contributions. Ann Emerg Med January 1998;31:78-82.]