TIME TRENDS FOR PUBLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL MANUSCRIPTS
IN LEADING US MEDICAL JOURNALS

Timothy C Fagan
Archives of Internal Medicine and Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

Objective: To determine current acceptance rates, and the percentage of original investigations from international (non-US) sources over a 20-year time span in 2 general medical and 2 internal medicine journals .

Design: Time Trends: All original investigations published in 1972, 1982, and 1992 in the 2 leading US general medical journals, JAMA and New England Journal of Medicine, and the 2 leading internal medicine journals, Annals of Internal Medicine and Archives of Internal Medicine, were reviewed for country of origin. Rates were determined by country and geographic area. Statistics were by chi square for trend. Acceptance Rates: Calendar year 1995 total submissions and number accepted, or acceptance rate, and country of origin, were obtained from the 2 general medical journals and the 2 internal medicine journals. Mean acceptance rates were calculated by journal type.

Results: Time Trends: For general medical journals, there was an increase in articles from non-US sources; 8.6% in 1972, 13.0% in 1982, and 19.2% in 1992, P<.001. For internal medicine journals, international articles increased from 8.4% in 1972 to 10.9% in 1982, and to 7% in 1992, P<.01. Canada had the highest percentage of total articles, and Europe ranked highest of non-North American geographic areas for both types of journals. Acceptance Rates: US mean acceptance rates were 16% for general medical journals and 23% for internal medicine journals. Corresponding mean acceptance rates were 17% and 35% for Canada, and 13% and 18% for Europe. For non-US, English-speaking countries, mean acceptance rates were 16% for general medical journals and 33% for internal medicine journals; for non-English-speaking countries mean acceptance rates were 6% and 13%.

Conclusions: The percentage of international manuscripts published in leading US general medical journals and internal medicine journals increased significantly from 1972 to 1992. Europe accounts for almost all of the increase. Potential reasons include improved science in non-US countries, improved ability to communicate in English, and the globalization of medicine due to improved and increased communication and dissemination of medical information. In 1995, except for Canada and Western Europe, acceptance rates for international manuscripts are lower than US general medical journals and internal medicine journals. Acceptance rates for English-speaking countries are more than twice the acceptance rates for non- English-speaking countries. Potential reasons include scientific quality, difficulty writing in English, bias against manuscripts from certain countries, and submission of best manuscripts to national, rather than US, journals.

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