Citation and content analysis of Hormozgan Medical Journal

Introduction: One of the most important branches of scientometrics is citation analysis
which offers patterns showing authors’ information searching behavior and authors’
authorship. Citation Analysis provides a pattern of authors’ Information-seeking behavior
and also Content Analysis provides a pattern of authorship. This study aimed to analyze the
citations and content of published articles in the Hormozgan Medical Journal (HMJ) from
2006 to 2011.
Methods: In this descriptive study, the citation and content of 211 published articles in the
HMJ during 2006-2011 were analyzed. Data analysis was done by SPSS-16 using descriptive
statistical methods.
Results: Out of 4168 citations in 211 published articles from the view point of citations to the
type, the shape and the language of the resources, the maximum were for journals (78.55%),
print material (98.27%) and English language (83.5%). The mean of citations for each article
was 19.7 and authors‘ self-citation was (1.63%). Out of 746 authors in 211 published articles
most of them were male (64.45%), most of corresponding -authors were assistant – professors
(36.96%) and most of them were affiliated to HUMS (85 tittles). Most type of articles were
original articles (96.68%), maximum number of articles were published in 2006 (49 tittles)
and most of them were written by more than one author (95.7%).
Conclusion: Although published articles in HMJ have had an acceptable condition from the
view point of authorship pattern, considering limited usage of up-to-date and electronic
resources, it seems the affiliated organization needs to take measures for improving the
authors’ pattern of information–seeking behavior.