The Canadian Journal of Anesthesia's History and Recent Citation Achievements
Journal Interview, February 2011
A recent analysis of Essential Science IndicatorsSM from Clarivate data shows that the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia is having a growing impact among journals in the field of Clinical Medicine. Its current record in this field includes 1,437 papers cited a total of 11,435 times between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2010. The Canadian Journal of Anesthesia was founded in 1954, and since 2008 has been published by Springer Science + Business Media, LLC. The current Editor-in-Chief is Dr. Donald Miller, at the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. |
In this interview, ScienceWatch.com talks with Dr. Miller and Springer's Editorial Director for Clinical Medicine, Antoinette Cimino, about the journal's history and citation achievements.
Did you expect the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia to become highly cited, or is this surprising to you?
The increased citation frequency of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia was anticipated. For several years the senior editorial team has embarked on a mission to increase the accuracy and transparency of scientific reporting in the Journal, to further improve the editorial peer-review process and to decrease peer-review lag time and publication lag time to make the Journal more competitive for higher-quality articles which we have been receiving and publishing.
In addition, the move from a model of society-based publication to a major publishing house (Springer Science + Business Media, LLC) at the end of 2008 has further increased the international exposure and circulation of the Journal.
How would you account for the high citation rate of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia
"The Canadian Journal of Anesthesia is poised to become the leading specialty medical journal within Canada..."
The high citation frequency is based upon sound editorial policy of selecting articles for publication that have credibility in regards to novelty, scientific merit, and overall importance. An emphasis on publishing clinically related articles relevant to the specialties of anesthesia, pain (which is highly cited), critical care, and perioperative medicine, has helped.
Would you give us a brief history of the journal?
The Journal was first published on a quarterly basis beginning in 1954. It has been a society-based publication (Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society) since inception, publishing articles in either English or French (the two official languages of Canada) according to the language of submission.
Over the years, the publication frequency increased to bimonthly, then to 10 issues/year, then becoming a monthly publication in 2004. The printed version of the Journal was complemented by an online version in 2000, at HighWire Press. In late 2008, the Society outsourced journal publication both in print and online to Springer Science + Business Media, LLC.
Around the same time, there was a major expansion of the editorial board to include international board members, and to establish a senior editorial team with a biostatistical editor and editors with content expertise in clinical epidemiology, cardiovascular anesthesia, critical care, and evidence-based medicine. The Journal now has a strong international presence with a strong Canadian base in the field of anesthesiology.
Since 2005, the number of article submissions has more than doubled, the Impact Factor has increased from 1.2 to 2.3, and the number of full article downloads has increased to nearly 30,000 monthly.
What historical factors have contributed to the success of the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia?
In addition to the above, being a society-based publication, and maintaining strong links between the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia and the Association of Canadian University Departments of Anesthesia (ACUDA) have helped the Journal considerably. Having the editorial board positions being sought-after has allowed the development and maintenance of a strong editorial board which adds to the credibility and success of the Journal.
Have there been specific developments in the fields served by the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia that may have contributed?
"Because of the key role which anesthesiologists play in simulation-based medicine and crisis resource management, we anticipate that the Journal will be publishing more articles across these content domains in the years ahead."
Advances in pain medicine, innovation in education, critical care medicine, and advanced airway management related to anesthesia are examples of areas where the Journal publishes articles very frequently. In addition, the Journal publishes editorials and special articles related to standardized scientific reporting and steps to enhance the accuracy and clarity of scientific reporting.
What, in your view, is this journal's main significance or contribution in the field of Clinical Medicine?
Routine and advanced airway management.
How do you see your field(s) evolving in the next few years?
Because of the key role which anesthesiologists play in simulation-based medicine and crisis resource management, we anticipate that the Journal will be publishing more articles across these content domains in the years ahead.
What role do you see for your journal?
The Canadian Journal of Anesthesia is unique in its role as a tier-1 target journal for submission of anesthesia and related articles in Canada, and a tier-2 journal for international submissions. The Journal plays a strong role as a scientific journal for advancing the body of scientific knowledge across its four content domains, for having a unique accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, and for employing a strong editorial review process that also helps to educate authors. The journal is unique in other respects as well, including publishing articles in both English and in French.
The Canadian Journal of Anesthesia is poised to become the leading specialty medical journal within Canada, while having at the same time a growing international subscription base.
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia
Dr. Donald Miller, Editor-in-Chief
Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, publishers
THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIA'S MOST CURRENT MOST-CITED PAPER IN ESSENTIAL SCIENCE INDICATORS:
Cooper RM, et al., "Early clinical experience with a new videolaryngoscope (Glidescope®) in 728 patients," Can. J. Anesth. 52(2): 191-8, February 2005 with 135 cites. Source: Essential Science Indicators from Clarivate.
KEYWORDS: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIA/JOURNAL CANADIEN D'ANESTHESIE, IMPACT FACTOR, ACCURACY, TRANSPARENCY, EDITORIAL PEER REVIEW PROCESS, PUBLISHING HOUSE, EDITORIAL POLICY, NOVELTY, SCIENTIFIC MERIT, OVERALL IMPORTANCE, ANESTHESIA, PAIN, CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, PERIOPERATIVE MEDICINE, ONLINE VERSION, INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE, ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS OF ANESTHESIA, AIRWAY MANAGEMENT, SIMULATION-BASED MEDICINE, CRISIS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.