LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Hospital Márcio Cunha, Ipatinga, MG, Brasil
Mailing Address
Keywords: Publications for science; diffusion; access to information; scientific publication indicators.
Dear Editor,
The new communication technologies applied in the academic environment are revolutionizing the way the relationship between scientists from different scientific areas. Open access to a particular journal and its articles in electronic version has expanded and facilitated this access1. Brazil, in the area of Cardiology, has researchers with significant results regarding their participation as authors of scientific knowledge in the country2. In turn, the increasing availability of publications regarding their evaluation raises new arguments, especially on the issue of quality assessment that the paper presented. We discuss the use of quantitative indicators such as the impact of publications as measured by their impact index or H factor3. However, if we are facing a new paradigm for that scientific communication, we shall consider other ways to assess these publications and their benefit to the scientific community.
The questions concerning our system of assessment of journals are being asked4,5. We will have to discuss new ways of assessing these publications. We must consider the importance and feasibility of development of scientific publications more regionalized, located nearer to those who are producing scientific knowledge. An academic institution or a service has all the conditions for their research and, thus, they will require means for registration and reporting of such research.
Another topic for increasing the importance of regional publications is citing the need for new spaces in the publishing universe. Facilitate the publishing universe without losing the commitment to quality and scientific rigor is a way to enhance the creative process of research and improve the training of our researchers.
We are creating an environment where we will have several publications based in academy and services. We will facilitate the publication process and, therefore, the scientific debate will gain more vitality and applicability in the routine practice of professionals and individuals and institutions that benefit from research in the healthcare area.
References
- 1. Moreno FP, Leite FC. Acesso livre a publicações e repositórios digitais em ciências da informação no Brasil. Perspect ciênc inf. 2006;11(1):82-94.
- 2. Oliveira E, Ribeiro A, Quirino I, Oliveira M, Martelli D, Lima L, et al. Pesquisadores do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico na área de Cardiologia. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2011;97(3):186-93.
- 3. Thomaz PG, Assad RS, Moreira LF. Using the impact factor and H index to assess researchers and publications. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2011;96(2):90-3.
- 4. Benchimol-Barbosa PR. Comments on paper by Thomas et al: how to evaluate" quality of publication". Arq Bras Cardiol. 2011;97(1):87.
- 5. Benchimol-Barbosa PR, Ribeiro RL, Barbosa EC. Additional comments on the paper by Thomas et al: how to evaluate "quality of publication". Arq Bras Cardiol. 2011;97(1):88.
How to broaden the debate and utility of scientific communications: the open access journals
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
27 Feb 2012 -
Date of issue
Feb 2012
