A century of citation classics in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery journals revisited

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Citation classics have traditionally been defined in the smaller medical specialties as any article published in a peer-reviewed journal that has received 100 or more citations from other articles also published in peer-reviewed journals. This study aimed to determine patterns of citation classics changes in the medical field otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery (OHNS) over the past decade and serves as a follow-up to an original study published in 2002, "A Century of Citation Classics in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery."

Study design: Bibliometric analysis.

Methods: Using the Journal Citation Reports and Web of Science, OHNS journals were selected and assessed for the content of citation classics.

Results: Nine-hundred five citation classics were found, over 11-fold more than 1 decade prior. Other significant changes were seen in country of origin, decade of publication, number of authors per article, subspecialty of article, and most frequently discussed topics.

Conclusions: The dramatic rise in quantity and nature of citation classics in the past decade may be due to unprecedented advancements in information technology and communication, allowing studies and experiments to be performed, written, reviewed, published, and cited at rapid rates.

Level of evidence: NA.

Keywords: Citation analysis; bibliometrics; citation classics; otorhinolaryngology; publication.