Changing Authorship Patterns and Publishing Habits in the European Journal of Pediatric Surgery: A 10-Year Analysis.

AIM

The aim of this study is an analysis of the changing authorship patterns and publishing habits encountered in papers published in the European Journal of Pediatric Surgery (EJPS) over the past 10 years. Furthermore, it seeks to anticipate the trends in the years ahead.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of articles published in the EJPS during a 10-year period (January 1, 2003-December 31, 2012). Each article was classified as an Original Report/Original Article (OR/OA) or as a Case Report/Case Gallery (CR/CG), and they were analyzed separately. For investigation of the percentage distribution of publications according to the number of authors per articles, papers were combined and into three groups (1-2, 3-5, and 6 ≤ authors). The analysis focused on whether the work was done by members of one institution, or in collaboration with other units of the same institution, or in collaboration with other national or multinational institutes.

RESULTS

In the past 10 years, the EJPS published 996 articles (616 ORs/OAs, 380 CRs/CGs). The one and two authored publications (125) have not decreased, the three to five authored articles (552) changed minimally, whereas the number of 6 ≤ authored publications (319) has increased. Of 996 publications, 348 were from single institutes and 648 were written in collaboration with two or more other institutes. In addition, in this 10-year period, the number of multinational articles has increased significantly from 24 to 59.

CONCLUSION

Increase in cooperation within and between institutions is a positive trend, aiming with the goal of improving quality of publications.