[Reader survey of the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association 2007]

Upon request, The Research Institute of the Norwegian Medical Association conducted a reader survey for the Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association (JNMA) during the autumn of 2007.

Three probability samples of 1,500 active doctors, 250 medical students and 250 retired doctors were given a questionnaire that could be completed and returned by ordinary mail or electronically. 48% of the students, 54% of the doctors, and 76% of the retired doctors responded.

54% of the readers spend 30 min or more on each issue. 20% of the retired doctors, 9% of the active doctors, and 7% of the students spend two hours or more. The declared aims of being a membership journal and a source for professional update were fulfilled significantly better than the other three declared aims; to stimulate research, support professional attitudes and promote health policy debate. The readers wanted more review articles, news from other journals and situations to learn from; and fewer advertisements, articles on "medicine and art" and a shorter language column. The website was particularly used to search for previously published articles, but also to read articles on screen. 32% of the students, 19% of the doctors, and 59% of the retired doctors did not use the JNMA's website. With regard to layout, the paper quality and the quality of the illustrations were praised. All in all the readers found many interesting articles in the JNMA and did not think it was too compact.