Current Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation Reports Impact Factor
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is a medical speciality that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to people with physical impairments or disabilities. It is a multidisciplinary field that involves the diagnosis, treatment, and management of musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary conditions, among others.
PM&R physicians or physiatrists work closely with other healthcare professionals such as physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and social workers to provide comprehensive care to their patients. They use various modalities such as exercise, manual therapy, medications, injections, and assistive devices to help their patients achieve their goals.
What is the Impact Factor?
The Impact Factor (IF) is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year or period. It is calculated by dividing the number of citations in the current year to articles published in the two preceding years by the total number of articles published in the two preceding years.
The IF is widely used as a proxy for the relative importance or prestige of a journal within its field. Journals with high IFs are considered to be more influential and attract more submissions and readership than those with low IFs. However, the IF has been criticized for various reasons, such as its potential bias towards English-language journals and citation practices, as well as its limited applicability to individual articles or authors.
What is the Current Impact Factor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Journals?
According to the latest Journal Citation Reports (JCR) released by Clarivate Analytics in June 2021, the IFs of physical medicine and rehabilitation journals range from 0.442 to 5.119, with a median of 1.745. The JCR includes 23 journals in the PM&R category, which are indexed in the Web of Science database and meet certain quality criteria.
The highest-ranked PM&R journal by IF is the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine (JRM), with an IF of 2.759 in 2020. JRM is an international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research, reviews, and case reports on various aspects of rehabilitation medicine, including physical, cognitive, and social aspects. It is published by Taylor & Francis and has been in publication since 1969.
Other PM&R journals with relatively high IFs include:
- Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IF 2.487)
- Disability and Rehabilitation (IF 2.317)
- Spinal Cord (IF 2.013)
- European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (IF 1.881)
- American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IF 1.836)
- PM&R (IF 1.771)
These journals cover a wide range of topics within the PM&R field, such as stroke rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disorders, pain management, prosthetics and orthotics, and sports medicine, among others.
Why is the Impact Factor Important?
The IF is important for several reasons:
- It provides a quantitative measure of the influence and visibility of a journal within its field.
- It can help authors and readers identify high-quality journals and articles for their research or clinical practice.
- It can affect the reputation, funding, and editorial policies of journals and institutions.
- It can influence the career advancement and job prospects of researchers and clinicians.
However, the IF should not be the only criterion for evaluating the quality or relevance of a journal or article. Other factors such as the scope, audience, editorial standards, citation practices, and ethical policies of the journal should also be considered.
Conclusion
The IF is a useful tool for assessing the impact and prestige of physical medicine and rehabilitation journals, but it should be used in conjunction with other criteria to make informed decisions about publishing, reading, or citing scientific literature. Physiatrists and other healthcare professionals should stay up-to-date with the latest research and practice guidelines in the PM&R field, and contribute to the dissemination and translation of knowledge through various channels.