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rqayyum
Re: Inconsistency of our medical journals
Dr Ijaz has raised some interesting points in the above response.
First, there is concern about indexing. All online journals by BioMed Centeral are indexed by PubMed (online Medline), the most commonly used index. So, having an online journal is not a limitation, rather quality of the journal is the limiting factor. If journal is of good quality, it will get indexed. Please note that less than 33% of the medical journals are indexed by PubMed.
Second, there is concern about the amount of effort involved. No doubt that running a journal needs help from a group of people. Actually, a larger group of people, with a proper distribution of work, is quite likely to increase the standard of journal. I am certain that if a journal is a one-man show, or run by a small group of people, its standard will be quite poor.
Third, making prestigiuos institutions responsible for a journal is a very interesting suggestion. However, I can't force any of these institutions. I doubt that any of us can. Interestingly, even this will not stop whining. There will always be people whose manuscripts will be rejected, and there will be complaints of preference to internal manuscripts. There will continue to be complaints about the standard of the articles. Therefore, in my humble opinion, making the whole process as transparent as possible is one possible solution that can decrease this sense of unfairness. (perfect solutions are only in books, there is no perfect solution in real life).
[Edited by rqayyum on 05-05-2005 at 02:41 AM GMT]
ijazali
Re: Lets Start a New Journal
that can be done definitely and infact quite a bit of such journals exist on the internet but they are not indexed. I believe this is a full time and dedicated job to run a journal. What i personally believe is we should strive to diminish if not finish the nepotism, grouping and politics in these journals because its nobody's property its for everybody. I would suggest through this forum that Credible academic Institutions like Aga Khan University, PIC, NICH and others should group up in twos and threes and start some journals so then it is an istitutional thing not like a single persons property.
what do you think, will like to know ur comments on that Dr qayyum.
ijaz
quote:
rqayyum wrote:
I agree that the standard of Pakistani medical journals is quite poor. Many published studies are deeply flawed in study design, use very elementary statistical techniques (and sometimes wrongly), have low power due to inadequate sample size, and generally written poorly. Ultimately, editorial board is responsible for the articles published in its journal. Poorly conducted and written articles studies reflect poorly on the editorial board.
I have a suggestion. It is a very rough idea and I have not completely thought through it. We all over here, who whine about the standard of Pakistani journals, can start a new online medical Journal (not on paper). An article submitted by anyone will immediately be available online (while it is still under review). Viewers can be encouraged to peer-review it and leave comments. However, final decision about the acceptance of the article will be by the editorial board. There should be 10-15 editorial boards, each responsible for a particular field. Members of the editorial board should be from all over the world, and representation from Pakistan should not be more than 50% of the members (that may discourage Chamcha Culture). Editorial board's decision and arguments for or against the acceptance of the article will also be available online, and as an attachment to the article (if accepted). If an article is rejected, it will be taken offline. There will be an executive board whose job will be to ensure smooth running of the whole project. As this will be an online journal, there will be far less problems in running such a journal than a printed journal. For an example, please see 'BioMed Central' journals. A website of such a Journal can be a part of another website such as this.
What do you guys think?
[Edited by rqayyum on 05-04-2005 at 04:12 AM GMT]
rqayyum
Lets Start a New Journal
I agree that the standard of Pakistani medical journals is quite poor. Many published studies are deeply flawed in study design, use very elementary statistical techniques (and sometimes wrongly), have low power due to inadequate sample size, and generally written poorly. Ultimately, editorial board is responsible for the articles published in its journal. Poorly conducted and written articles studies reflect poorly on the editorial board.
I have a suggestion. It is a very rough idea and I have not completely thought through it. We all over here, who whine about the standard of Pakistani journals, can start a new online medical Journal (not on paper). An article submitted by anyone will immediately be available online (while it is still under review). Viewers can be encouraged to peer-review it and leave comments. However, final decision about the acceptance of the article will be by the editorial board. There should be 10-15 editorial boards, each responsible for a particular field. Members of the editorial board should be from all over the world, and representation from Pakistan should not be more than 50% of the members (that may discourage Chamcha Culture). Editorial board's decision and arguments for or against the acceptance of the article will also be available online, and as an attachment to the article (if accepted). If an article is rejected, it will be taken offline. There will be an executive board whose job will be to ensure smooth running of the whole project. As this will be an online journal, there will be far less problems in running such a journal than a printed journal. For an example, please see 'BioMed Central' journals. A website of such a Journal can be a part of another website such as this.
What do you guys think?
[Edited by rqayyum on 05-04-2005 at 04:12 AM GMT]
ijazali
CHAMCA CULTURE
I am extremly disappointed with the standard of Pakistani journals. they are all beaurocrats especially JCPSP and JPMA when you write to them they hardly respond and you can send a manuscript to them and forget after that u can cry, weep, request, beg but it will not make any difference to them. they have their butts firmly placed on their chairs, no body can move them because LIKE rest of the Pakistani administration they are equally unqualified, unelected and there just because of some stroke of luck.
JCPSP especially has a developed a society of Mutual appreciation now what they have started is bringing out issues on a specific topic like breast diseases , DVT etc thats not bad in any ways but whats happening is that these are all invited articles so if i like u i ask u write an article on something and ur crapy CV will achieve an article this way and in this way u have obligations to JCPSP now so both are happy. TRUE CHAMCHA CULTURE.
IJAZ
quote:
nukedoc wrote:
I agree here that the journal standards are very poor with hardly anyone recognized as in medline or have any impact factor at all. The reason why the expat pakistanis dont publish in these journals is simple - if you have some credible research and good paper of course you would get it published in a international journal of reputation. Unless the level of honesty, integrity and impartialness doesnt improve no one would submit any meaningful research to local journals
nukedoc
Re: Inconsistency of our medical journals
I agree here that the journal standards are very poor with hardly anyone recognized as in medline or have any impact factor at all. The reason why the expat pakistanis dont publish in these journals is simple - if you have some credible research and good paper of course you would get it published in a international journal of reputation. Unless the level of honesty, integrity and impartialness doesnt improve no one would submit any meaningful research to local journals
