BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND IMPACT FACTOR OF ANNALS OF IBADAN POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE JOURNAL BETWEEN 2003-2023: THE PIVOTAL ROLES OF THE FRONTIERSMAN

K.I. Egbuchulem1, G Adebayo2, I. Adeagbo2, O.S. Michael3

  1. Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
  2. Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
  3. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

Abstract

Introduction: Bibliometric appraisal of a research publication outfit of this nature serves as a tool to evaluate the direction of research activities of Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine Journal as it pertains to article publication between 2003 and 2023, and to determine the research impacts on the body of knowledge. The essence of this review is to determine the quantum volume of research output, nature of publication, regional distribution, and citations.

Methodology: Information was transcribed on the cataloguing cards for the generation of data bank. Subject analysis was carried out using Medical Subject Headings of 2023 edition. Excel spreadsheet was used to analyze the data. Univariate analysis was done and presented in frequency and proportions. Descriptive statistics were presented in charts, line graphs, and tables.

Results: Five hundred and fifty-two research articles were submitted during thisperiod (2003 – 2023) while 21 out of this are still in the peer review cycle and has been carried forward to year 2024. Of the 531 reviewed, 441 was published with a manuscript acceptance rate of 83%. The highest number of articles, 45 (8.2%) was published in 2023, followed by 2021 with 39 articles (7.1%) and the least published year was 2003 with eight. AIPM has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge with a total of 441 research output over this period, out of which we had 309 publications between 2008 – 2021 with 2,869 citations. Oyo State recorded the maximum number of publications in terms of geographical distribution with most of the authorship from Ibadan.

Conclusion: AIPM has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge with a total of 441 research output, and manuscript acceptance rate of 83%. Also, a 2,869 citations were recorded over a 13-year period. There was a gradual increase in research output during the period.

Correspondence:

Dr. K.I. Egbuchulem
Division of Paediatric Surgery,
Department of Surgery,
University College Hospital,
Ibadan.
E-mail:ifeanyiegbuchulem@yahoo.com

Introduction

Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine (AIPM) is a peer-reviewed, open access, PubMed-indexed international biomedical journal registered with PubMed since June 2013 with full approval in April 2014, and now publishes tri-annually (April, August, and December) by the Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. The Journal identifier- ISSN Print is 1597-1627 with a Creative Common License by Non-Commercial 3.0 (CC BY-NC 3.0). The journal has had 11 generations of editorial board members with each waxing stronger as the year comes by.

It is not over until it is over. Just like Dr. Williams O. Balogun (Maiden edition of AIPM, 2003)1 once said at the inception of this journal, there is always room for improvement and indeed a lot has been achieved in these past decades as AIPM has established itself as a leading biomedical journal in Nigeria.

In the maiden editorial of the journal in 2003, Dr. Williams O. Balogun described the aims and objectives behind the establishment of the journal, when he wrote1: ‘The desire to own and publish a journal of this type by the Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital, Ibadan has been on for some years now. This arose out of realization that today’s specialist doctors must not only be adept in clinical practice but also be scholarly. Moreover, we envisaged a journal that would be a tool for postgraduate training and education, not only featuring articles on diseases but also publish topical issues that help in adequately preparing doctors of the 21st century’. The journal has a vision to regularly publish first class and widely cited articles in different specialties of medical sciences and related subjects.

In the last 20 years of the journal, it has achieved the conceived visions through the birth pangs of the founding Editor-in-Chief; Dr. Williams O. Balogun – who navigated the journal through the early years with the help of the Editorial Consultant, Professor S. Kadiri and the foreign editorial adviser, Professor A.O. Akanji, through adequate nurturing, breastfeeding and a balance of the needed nutrients through the teething years, and toddler stage till it became a full-fledged standing journal of international repute.2 This year, as we celebrate the journal’s 20th anniversary, we are adults by all standards. For the relentless labour and sacrifices of our great pioneers, the entire body of residents in UCH, Ibadan (past and present), researchers and trainers within the UCH community, and our esteemed authors and reviewers from within Nigeria and across the continent, we are extremely grateful for the seed sown years ago that is already bearing fruits.

Bibliometric appraisal of a research publication outfit of this nature serves as a tool to evaluate the direction of research activities of Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine Journal as it pertains to article publication between 2003 and 2023, and to determine the research impacts on the body of knowledge. The essence of this review is to determine the quantum volume of research output, nature of publication, regional distribution, and citations. The editorial team is proud of the achievements the journal has made over this decade. It is a time for congratulations, but more importantly, it is a time for circumspection and critical planning for the future and next decade.

By the PubMed indexing over a decade ago, the AIPM has joined the prestigious global league of medical journals, and this is a big developmental milestone especially in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and UCH.

The AIPM was launched on 12th December 2003.3 Its inclusion in high-profile bibliographic indexes started with, African Index Medicus in 2005, then African Journal Online (AJOL) in 2006, leading to the publication of abstracts on PubMed from June 2007 till date. The recent re-assessment of the AIPM journal in 2023 by AJOL showed the journal had 1 star Journal Publishing Practices and Standard (tier 4) rating. AIPM is yet to be indexed by Scopus, Scimago Journal Ranking, Web of Science, Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), however, we patiently wait for approval from Asian Science Citation Index (ASCI). Consistent good performance, year in, year out, is an important prerequisite for journal success. Poor performance in any season or year may lead to expulsion or relegation to a lower journal league. Self-assessments, adjustments4 and maintenance of balance on the conveyor belt of progress are useful tactics of the AIPM for survival hence this appraisal.