Factors Related to the Frequency of Citation of the Physical Therapy Journal

Abstract

We conducted a review of the highest impact physical therapy journal (Physical Therapy) to determine factors associated with subsequent citations within three years of publication. We conducted citation counts for all original articles published in Physical Therapy 2008 (12 issues). Study characteristics and citation rates were analyzed using median and interquartile ranges and logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate which factors predicted greater citation rates. The first citation time, study design, number of reference, number of pages and the month of publication were the variables associated with subsequent citation rate. We found significant correlations between the citation rates and the month of publication, study design, number of reference, number of pages and first citation time. In addition, we revealed that review articles were cited more frequently than clinical research articles. We consider that this information may help the readers, authors, reviewers, librarians and promotion committees to plan the studies and also to analyze and evaluate the articles.