Open access vs. subscription: comparing the impact of journals in physical therapy and rehabilitation

Open access (OA) and subscription-based (SB) journals are key models in academic publishing. OA journals focus on accessibility, while SB journals often emphasize subscription revenue, leading to variations in metrics such as impact factor and citation performance.

To compare metrics of OA and SB physical therapy and rehabilitation journals using Scimago Journal & Country Rank (SJCR).

The study analyzed 266 journals, including 92 OA and 174 SB journals. Metrics such as impact factor, H-index, Scimago Journal Rank (SJR), total citations, citations-to-documents ratio, quartile rankings, and article processing charges (APCs) were examined.

SB journals showed significantly higher H-index values (p < 0.001). Higher APCs in OA journals were strongly correlated with higher impact factors (r = 0.703, p < 0.001), SJR (r = 0.727, p < 0.001), total citations (r = 0.586, p < 0.001), and H-index (r = 0.520, p < 0.001). Quartile rankings indicated better performance for OA journals (p < 0.05).

While SB journals exhibited higher H-index values, OA journals performed similarly in other metrics. The correlation between higher APCs and improved performance in OA journals underscores the role of financial investment. Both models are crucial for disseminating research in physical therapy and rehabilitation, highlighting the importance of editorial standards and rigorous peer review.