[The most often quoted journals in primary care]

Area of Science:

• Bibliometrics
• Primary Care Research
• Medical Journal Analysis

Background:

• Understanding citation patterns is crucial for assessing the influence and dissemination of research.
• Primary care journals serve as vital conduits for evidence-based practice in general medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the bibliographical references within original articles from four primary care journals in 1988.
• To identify the most frequently cited journals in primary care literature.
• To compare citation practices across different cultural contexts in primary care.

Main Methods:

• Bibliographical analysis of 4,225 references from 328 original articles.
• Articles were sourced from four primary care journals: Canadian Family Physician, Journal of Family Practice, Atención Primaria, and Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
• Identification and quantification of cited journal titles.

Main Results:

• A total of 725 different journals were cited.
• The ten most frequently cited journals accounted for 38% of all bibliographical references.
• Key cited journals included major international medical publications alongside the primary care journals reviewed.

Conclusions:

• A concentrated number of high-impact journals dominate the citation landscape in primary care research.
• These findings underscore the importance of a few core journals in shaping primary care literature.
• The study provides insights into the citation behavior of primary care physicians in 1988.