[A systems approach to the integrated analysis of Mexican health periodicals]

The purpose of this work is to introduce a systems approach to a holistic analysis of the situation that prevails in regard to quality and development of the Mexican journals in the health sciences (MJHS). This would be performed through the "visibility" of the journals, both individually and as a group at the national and international levels. A soft systems methodology is proposed as an approach to an overall analysis. We describe the human activities and different elements interrelated, at the levels of structure, process and outcome of the system, in regard to edition-distribution-use of the MJHS. The methodology considers two models. One related to quality of the journals, and the other to its use and some expected outcomes. Both models are related to a previous conceptual model that attempts to assess the impact of information use and access on quality of health care. A proposal is presented to implement the models through specific research lines. Some implications of this analysis and its effects on some of the actors involved are described.