References of Brazilian Medical Journals in national publications

Abstract

Objective

To assess whether there is a preference for international journal citation to the detriment of national ones in ten Brazilian medical journals, in two different periods.

Methods

All references in the articles published in Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia, Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular, Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, São Paulo Medical Journal, Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia e Metabologia, Clinics, Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria e Acta Ortopédica Brasileira in the years 2011 and 2007 were analyzed, assessing the number of articles published in national and international journals.

Results

A total of 36,125 references from 1,462 articles published in the 10 aforementioned journals were analyzed. Of the total number, 4,242 (11.74%) were from Brazilian journals. There was no significant difference between the two analyzed periods. A total of 453 (30.98%) articles had Brazilian references and 81 (5.54%) articles had more national than international references.

Conclusion

Of total references analyzed, 11.74% were related to articles published in Brazilian journals. This number, when compared to the percentage of Brazilian articles published in the medical area, demonstrates a good number of citations of national articles.