1916-2016: a centenary of publications

Area of Science:

• Medical History
• Bibliometrics
• Irish Medicine

Background:

• The centenary of Ireland's 1916 Easter Rising prompted reflection on national achievements.
• Ireland's oldest medical journal, the Irish Journal of Medical Science, provides a unique historical record of medical progress.
• This study examines the journal's most cited papers over the past century.

Observation:

• The majority of highly cited papers (77%) originated in Ireland.
• Trinity College Dublin was the most frequent institutional affiliation (n=12).
• Obstetrics was the most common specialty represented (n=9).

Findings:

• The average number of citations per article was 20.56 (SD ±22.36).
• The most cited paper was 'Coagulative properties of cancers' (1958) by O'Meara et al.
• A trend of increasing citations for top-cited papers per year was observed over time.

Implications:

• The Irish Journal of Medical Science serves as a significant cultural artifact documenting a century of medical achievement.
• Continued support for the journal is crucial for preserving and advancing medical knowledge.
• The findings offer insights into the evolution of medical research priorities and impact in Ireland.