Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Lecturer, Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 MSc, Department of Medical Library and Information Science, Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: In recent years, the number of academic medical research journals has increased in Iran. These journals must be based on the standards and criteria required in international indexing databases in order to be indexed. The aim of the present study was to determine the extent to which the medical journals in Iran comply with Medline indexing criteria. Methods: The current study was a descriptive-applied study. The statistical population consisted of all scientific research journals approved by the Ministry of Health of Iran. The data collection tool was a checklist, which was prepared on the basis of 12 structural criteria extracted from Medline database criteria. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods in SPSS software. Results: The lowest score was 4 and the highest score was 12 for the studied journals. The highest frequency of journals (24.6%) earned a score of 8. According to the structural criteria of Medline, average score of the journals was 8.86. In addition, the degree of compliance of the structural status of Iranian medical journals with the Medline criteria was calculated at 73.68%. Conclusion: In terms of the majority of the structural criteria of Medline, the studied Iranian medical journals were at a satisfactory level. However, regarding the international diversity of the editorial board, support of scientific societies, and the reporting of conflict of interest by the authors, the studied medical journals were not at a desirable level. Compliance of the journals with the standards can increase their chances of being indexed in Medline.
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