Correlation between Journal Self-Citation and Impact Factor in Medical Scientific Journals Indexed in Published Journal Citation Reports of Islamic World Science Citation Database

Introduction: This study investigated the correlation between journal self–citation and impact factor in medical subject category through those scientific journals indexed in published journal citation reports (PJCR) of Islamic World Science Citation Database (ISC) during 2001-2007.The purpose was to recognize journal self–citation and find its correlation with impact factor. It is common to find some journal self–citations among all citations of a journal. As high rate of self–citation puts journal at a high rank, calculation of impact factor regardless of self–citation seems to be essential.Methods: Citation analysis was used to conduct this research. The population of this study included 309 ISC's PJCR medical journals with impact factor during 2001-2007. To do this, data from the 2001-2007 PJCR was extracted (journals with impact factor). Using ISC’s PJCR and choosing the year and the field of medical sciences, the journals with impact factor were shown and also using citing journals option, the list of citing journals to the specific journal was displayed. Then, using the list of number of self-citations and effective self-citations on impact factor, the data were analyzed via SPSS software version 16 (Pearson Correlation test).Results: A significant correlation between impact factor and journal self–citation was found (r = 0.556, P < 0.001). Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated a negative relationship between impact factor and number of articles (r = -0.350, P < 0.001). There was not any significant relation between the number of articles and journal self–citation (r = 0.068, P = 0.233). Journal self–citation rate in medical sciences field during 2001-2007 has found a descending process. After removing journal self–citation, the rank of 100 journals descended, of 192 journals ascended, and the rank of 17 journals did not accept any change.Conclusion: The findings of the research showed that journals with high impact factor had more self-citation; which means self-citation has a positive effect on journal impact factor. Considering the fact that self-citation in medical sciences in compare with other fields has a higher rate, and this high rate of self-citation causes journals not put on the real position, editors and publishers must revise the selection policy of papers.Keywords: Publications, Periodicals, Citation.