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Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases
Published on: October 24, 2019
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Do open-access dermatology articles have higher citation counts than those with subscription-based access?
Fangyi Xie1, Sherief Ghozy2, David F Kallmes2
1Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America.
Plos One
|December 22, 2022
Summary
Open-access publishing in dermatology hybrid journals leads to higher citation counts compared to subscription-access articles. Researchers should consider confounding factors like funding and origin when choosing publication type for maximum impact.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Medical Publishing
- Bibliometrics
Background:
- Open-access (OA) publishing is growing in dermatology, with hybrid journals offering both OA and subscription-access (SA) options.
- While OA's prevalence is noted in many fields, its specific impact in dermatology remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the citation rates and impact of open-access (OA) versus subscription-access (SA) articles in dermatology hybrid journals.
- To investigate potential confounding factors influencing the choice between OA and SA publishing in dermatology.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of English-language dermatology hybrid journals was conducted using Clarivate Journal Citation Report data.
- Articles from 2018-2019 were sampled, comparing OA and SA original research and review articles.
- Citation counts (including and excluding self-citations), Scopus views, and Altmetric scores were analyzed using R software.
Main Results:
- OA articles in dermatology hybrid journals showed significantly higher mean citation counts than SA articles (13.2 vs. 7.9).
- This citation advantage for OA was observed for both original research and review articles, even after adjusting for publication time.
- No significant differences were found in article view counts or Altmetric scores between OA and SA publications.
Conclusions:
- Open-access dermatology articles in hybrid journals achieve higher citation rates than subscription-access articles.
- Dermatology researchers should carefully consider confounding factors such as article funding and geographical origin when selecting OA over SA publishing to maximize research impact.
