Meeting Report Consultative Meeting and Workshop for Strengthening

Meeting report

UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)

TDR/FAME meeting (1) Consultative meeting and workshop for strengthening African medical journals

Geneva, Switzerland October 14-16, 2002

TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1 Original: English www.who.int/tdr

TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Consultative meeting and workshop for strengthening African medical journals

Geneva, 14-16 October 2002 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

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CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKSHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Geneva, 14-16 October 2002

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...... 5

ITEM 1 - Opening remarks, objectives of the meeting and expected results and Current state of Medical Journal Publishing in the World and Africa (sessions 1-3) (report by A. Flanagin) ...... 5

ITEM 2 - The place of health research conducted in Africa in a few wide-circulation journals (session 4) ...... 6

ITEM 3 - National, regional and international visibility of health research (session 5) ...... 7

ITEM 4 - Existing networks and resources for medical editors (session 6) (report by A. Marusic) ...... 7

ITEM 5 -Training workshop: first day (sessions 7-11) ...... 8

ITEM 6 -Training workshop: second day (sessions 13-15) ...... 11

ITEM 7 - Creation of FAME : Forum of African Medical Editors ...... 12

ITEM 8 - Conclusions and recommendations ...... 12

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TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKSHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Geneva,14-16 October 2002

ANNEXES

Annex 1 - List of Participants ...... 14

Annex 2 - Agenda ...... 19

Annex 3 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 3 ...... 22

Annex 4 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 4 ...... 49

Annex 5 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 5 ...... 61

Annex 6 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 6 ...... 65

Annex 7 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 7 ...... 72

Annex 8 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 8 ...... 73

Annex 9 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 9 ...... 74

Annex 10 - Abstracts of presentations of Session 10 ...... 75

Annex 12 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 12 ...... 78

Annex 13 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 13 ...... 80

Annex 14 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 14 ...... 87

Annex 15 - Abstracts and presentations of Session 15 ...... 89

Annex 16 - Minutes of a special meeting of African medical editors, (Wednesday, 16 October 2002) ...... 91

TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

INTRODUCTION

The UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) organized a meeting and workshop for medical journal editors from African countries to explore mechanisms for improving quality and dissemination of national medical publications.This meeting was expected to generate ideas for TDR to identify and support,in collaboration with various partners, a plan of action to strengthen and promote high quality and good publishing practices in African medical research journals.The expected result should be increased journal visibility and wider readership within the African continent and globally.This Consultative Meeting and Workshop was held at WHO Headquarters, Geneva, from 14-16 October 2002.

ITEM 1 – Opening remarks, objectives of the meeting and expected results and current state of medical journal publishing in the world and Africa (sessions 1-3) (report by A. Flanagin).

Dr Carlos Morel,Director CDS/TDR,opened the meeting.Dr Fabio Zicker summarized the objectives of the meeting:to bring together African medical journal editors with important players from the North (editors,publishers,librarians,and others interested in improving the quality of medical information); to review the current state of African medical journals, and to improve the quality and visibility of African medical journals and African medical science. The meeting began with a review of the current state of African medical journals.The oldest medical journal in Africa, South African Medical Jounal, began in 1884. There are at least another 100 medical journals published in 26 different African countries. To set the stage, Hooman Momen, editor of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, reviewed current trends in medical publishing worldwide, which included advances in information technology, the Internet,interests of authors and readers,financial sustainability of various models of publishing and information dissemination, and public interest in journals. He noted new trends, which represent threats to traditional publishing models: users of medical information having access to information regardless of ability to pay, with costs borne by providers of information (i.e., authors); self-publishing and archiving by authors, the emergence of common standards, Web portals and virtual libraries,and digitization of the literature. He posed a series of questions that represent new challenges: will the Internet remain affordable? Will journals be discontinued? Will authors self-archive their articles? Will reviewers continue to serve as unpaid volunteers? Will articles remain two-dimensional? Will open access become standard? Hooman Momen concluded by citing important challenges for medical journal editors: to improve the editorial content of their journals;to guarantee the quality, integrity, and confidentiality of the review process;and to improve the quality of published research as well as research in the field. Edith Certain,Information Officer for TDR/WHO, then reported on her survey of African medical journal editors.The survey was adapted from a previous survey for the World Association of Medical Editors and focused on 3 areas: to identify active medical journals in Africa, determine editorial practices,content, and visibility of these journals,and assess the needs and concerns of African medical journal editors.The questionnaire was sent to 109 editors and was posted on discussion lists and forwarded through WHO country offices in Africa. Editors from 63 journals from 26 African countries replied to the survey.The majority of journals are owned by academic institutions, have small circulation (24 journals have circulation under 5000), lack adequate funding,have difficulty maintaining publication frequency, are peer-reviewed,have high acceptance rates (>60%), publish new research, and are rarely indexed in major databases.In addition, most of the editors who replied to the survey reported that they have access to the Internet and use e-mail regularly and would welcome training and an access to electronic network of other editors. Edith Certain also noted questions that were raised by the survey: Is lack of visibility of African medical journals only a result of economic and physical constraints? Can improved peer

1 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

review and editorial practices bring about international recognition? And how can editors per- suade African medical researchers to publish in African journals? During the discussion that followed these presentations, participants agreed that Africa needs to have international medical journals that are visible to, contributed to, and read by Africans as well as the rest of the world. (See Annex 3 for full presentations)

ITEM 2 – The place of health research conducted in Africa in a few wide circulation journals (session 4)

Five panellists consisting of editors of wide circulation medical journals (Tropical Medicine and International Health, Cahiers Santé, Médecine tropicale, South African Medical Journal and the British Medical Journal were invited to reply to the following questions:What is Africa’s place of research in international medical journals? What are the incentives to publish in international journals? What are the publication barriers and constraints? Do research findings published in these journals get to the African health community? Tessa Richards (BMJ) and Susan Groener (TMIH) gave the main reasons for publishing in “international” journals versus “national” journals as being: increased visibility of research results and high print run, prestige and career advancement for researchers and justifying or attracting funding for research using the high impact factor of international journals.The barriers to publication were identified as being the difficulties in performing research in a developing country environment (poor working conditions, poor access to research literature, weak local peer networks for support).The difficulties in getting published could be assigned to language barriers (not in the case of TMIH), relevance of local research for an international readership, high rejection rate of articles by international journals, poor Internet connectivity in some research institutions,high cost of submitting articles to northern journals. Dan Ncayiyana (SAMJ) stressed the fact that because “international” medical journals have their own agenda, they are not interested in publishing articles on national health system research or on health topics that are specific to developing countries. On the contrary, SAMJ strives to publish articles specific to health conditions in South Africa. Dominique Richard-Lenoble (Cahiers Santé) presented his journal as a vehicle for young health researchers from developing countries to publish public health research results from their own countries, in collaboration with confirmed researchers from the North.The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie sponsors his journal. The three main priorities of Médecine tropicale, according to his editor, Bertrand Mafart, are to publish high quality research in tropical medicine, to provide regular current information on public health in the tropics and to privilege didactic clarity as opposed to academic sketchiness. The successful dissemination of health research results among the African health community through these international medical journals is difficult to appraise. Several initiatives such as open access to journals through Internet (BMJ) or HINARI (Health Internetwork Research Initiative), wide free distribution of these journals in African countries certainly facilitate their reading. However, problems such as poor IT connectivity, limited relevance of research results, their interpretation and applicability into current practice limit the usefulness of some developed country journals in Africa. Several ways to promote a two-way information exchange between the North and the South were mentioned by the participants.Among others:writing fellowships for southern authors,twinning of journals to promote editorial training, sharing of common databases of reviewers, using PubMed to find reviewers outside of the region if needed, developing regional editions or regional theme issue of international journals. (See Annex 4 for full presentations)

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ITEM 3 - National, regional and international visibility of health research (session 5)

This session was introduced and chaired by Tikki Pang,WHO scientist, who outlined the importance of health research in the WHO strategic agenda.This session focused on the need and the means to give visibility to published (and unpublished) health research results. Shyama Kuruvilla, WHO scientist, called participants to “rethink the role of national health research publication”. Drawing on related experiences in countries and on the WHO Health Research System Analysis Initiative this presentation highlighted the need for creative thinking on the role of national health research publication. MEDLINE® is the most frequently accessed database in Medicine or any other subject area in the world said Sheldon Kotzin, Executive Editor of Medline. Each weekday more than 200,000 users access MEDLINE via the NLM PubMed system and conduct more than 1.2 million searches. Usage is worldwide. The U.S. represents 52% of PubMed use;Japan about 10%;the remaining 38% come from researchers and clinicians from more than 150 other countries.African journals are underrepresented in MEDLINE.There is a multitude of benefits derived from inclusion in MEDLINE,and NLM is prepared to do as much as possible to see that African journals have a fair and considerate review. The dilemma for African editors is that it appears that a journal needs high-quality content from recognized authors to get indexed and yet it is difficult to attract high-quality content from recognized authors unless one’s journal is indexed. Knowledge of the journal review and selection process will help overcome this dilemma. Dr Najeeb Al Shorbaji,WHO Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO),presented the regional Index Medicus from EMRO (IMEMR). IMEMR indexes the health and medical literature published in the region and which is not indexed in international databases.It started in 1987 and indexed retrospectively all the articles back to 1984. It became current in 1999 and includes 320 medical journals. Presently, the database consists of 72 880 records of which 47 487 come from African medical journals of this region. Dr Al Shorbaji proceeded to analyse the input of these African journals, the main topics of the articles, the existence or lack of editorial board and peer review mechanisms, their availability over Internet and their distribution. EMRO supports African medical journals through multiple activities (reprinting of articles in the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, indexing in IMEMR, training workshops and financial support). BioMed Central is a new initiative to give access to health and medical research results reported Delphine Grynszpan, Managing Editor. It aims to set a new role for the publisher as a service provider to the science and medical community. BioMed Central’s model combines the benefits of online publishing and an open access policy: very high visibility, rapid publication (publication reflects the time it takes to peer review),authors retain copyright to their article, users can freely access, download and print copies of the articles.All articles are indexed in PubMed and permanently archived in the US National Institutes of Health’s PubMed Central.The cost of publishing with this model is much less than in a subscription-based print journal. It is funded through payment of an article-processing charge and through advertising.BioMed Central has now developed real expertise in electronic publishing and in managing open access journals which its editor hoped could prove useful to African editorial groups. (See Annex 5 for full presentations)

ITEM 4 - Existing networks and resources for medical editors (session 6) (report by A. Marusic)

This session introduced five resource bodies with potential benefits for African medical editors: Ana Marusic presented the World Association of Medical Editors, WAME. WAME is a «virtual», electronic community aimed at medical editors all over the world. Its web-site provides a forum for exchanging experiences of editors, but also provides guidance in standards of editorial work, as well as educational resources for medical editors.It also aims,in cooperation with other organ-

3 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

izations, to reach out to the editors in different geographical regions and provide education in the local environment. The Council of Science editors (CSE), former Council of Biology Editors, was presented by Annette Flanagin. CSE is the association of editors from different scientific fields. Most members come from North America and Europe, but it has international members, including developing countries. It provides different resources for editors, including an annual meeting and educational courses and workshops, a bimonthly publication called Science Editor, Scientific Style and Format (a major style manual for scientific author and editors), a Web site, and editorial policies.At their annual meeting, CSE also offers short sources for journal editors.Annette Flanagin also spoke of JAMA International Fellowship in Medical Journalism, which is a 2-4 month fellowship to educate medical editors about all aspects of journal publishing. She also introduced the Congress on Biomedical Peer Review, which offers a sponsored scholar program for financially less privileged editors to attend the Congress,which is held every 4 years,as well as a Workshop for Biomedical Editors held before each Congress. Karen Hofman introduced the programs of the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes for Health.The Center is in the process of consultation with respect to a potential program to promote scientific research culture internationally by training editors, researchers and scientific journalists. Pippa Smart presented the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP). INASP works on improving access to reliable information for health care workers in developing and transition countries. One of its activities consisted in organizing workshops for journal editors, which they design on request and work in collaboration with local editors. In future, INASP plans to develop a modular program of such workshops,and provide training of the editors who would serve as trainers in their own community. Tim Albert presented the Tunbridge Wells Course for Editors,which his firm does in collaboration with BMJ and Blackwell Publishers.The course involved group work and many exercises related to editorial work, especially in relation to journal owners, readers, authors, and the general public. (See Annex 6 for full presentations)

ITEM 5 - Training workshop: first day (sessions 7-11)

• Meeting International Standards:quality and ethics in research and publishing Barbara Aronson,WHO Librarian, presented the essential points that facilitate the librarian’s job in processing the journals and also the use of journals by readers . This included journal format, numbering of volumes and issues, layout of pages and covers to facilitate photocopying and subsequent retrieval of a journal. Her view was that the more these points were taken into account by the editors, the more used the journals would be by readers. She also talked about the importance of the abstract for journals to be indexed in international databases. She encouraged editors to work with librarians who in fact promote the consultation and use of journals. Dan Ncayiyana,SAMJ Editor, talked about the role of the editor in an African Medical Journal, based on his experience in the South African Medical Journal. He mentioned the size and style, the high rejection rate of articles submitted to his journal and conflicts of interest.Publishing regularity is an important point for a research journal. In the discussion that followed several questions were raised. One participant mentioned the problem of irregular publishing due to lack of manuscripts and also the fact that manyAfrican editors have to re-write the articles submitted.This explains why the rejection rate in many African journals is very low. Participants stressed that reviewers’ comments should be constructive and raised the issue of language on the part of the authors who have to reply to the reviewers’ comments. Most of the editors agreed that medical editors should “groom up” authors in medical schools. A rapid survey was conducted among the participants to ask about their policy concerning reviewers’ conflict of interest. There was none except for the SAMJ.

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Annette Flanagin, CSE, made an exhaustive presentation about the understanding, awareness and use of the peer review process. She described research that has been conducted on peer review, what is known and not known about the process,and its effectiveness.She reviewed the three different types of peer review: blind, anonymous and open, as well as the advantages and disadvan- tages of each type. She also described a common problem encountered in peer review - conflicts of interest - and offered suggestions for editorial polices that editors can follow to deal with conflicts of interest on the part of authors, reviewers, and editors. In subsequent discussion, again it was suggested that PubMed be used to identify reviewers.Another suggestion was to set up a common database of reviewers for African medical editors.

• Finding and keeping good reviewers: an exchange of experience

• “The key to finding and keeping good reviewers is good manners,” said Bruce Squires. • If possible, before sending a manuscript out to review, ask potential reviewers politely if they are willing to do the work within a prescribed but reasonable time; • Always promptly thank the reviewer for the review; • Promptly share the journal’s decision and the other reviewers’ comments with each reviewer;

Problems Solutions

Group 1 1. Problems of marketing to different groups: readers, Design flyers or brochures with the information authors, reviewers,librarians on the topics covered by the journal, indicate its periodicity and indexing in bibliographic databases, emphasize benefits of the journal for different target groups. Indicate coming topics in the journal.

2.Visibility Get indexed in local and international bibliographic databases. Make an on-line edition of the journal and publi- cize this in the flyer.

3. Feedback from the readers Put a questionnaire for readers in the journal.

4. Distribution problems: the editor does not know if Put a flyer in the journal asking readers to indi- the journal reaches the target population,there is often cate change of address. change of address,and postal service is unreliable. Use institutions in rural areas to distribute the journals, associations,and libraries. Make your journal known (personal presence, flyers,and brochures) at book fairs and professional conferences. Group 2: Distribution problems: 1. Lack of institutional support, expensive postal sys- It is important that the journal (and research pub- tem,both locally and internationally. lished in it reaches decision-makers). Institutions (such as WHO) can support such journal distribution to decision-makers.

2. Dissemination of information. Rewrite research information published in medical journals in local newspapers – importance of medical journalism.

5 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Problems Solutions

Group 3 1.Problem of hard copy (paper journal) distribution – Individual postage does not make sense, so bulk the usual means of distribution in A f r i c a . postage and use of unconventional means of distribution (private transportation services, such as 2.Africa is geographically a huge area, without good transcontinental buses,or use of UN-related agen- infrastructure (unreliable postal service and most cies). other governmental services,problems with convert- ible currencies, crossborder communication.

Group 4: 1. Distribution problems to individual subscribers Use associations and their membership for the distribution of the journal (members coming to the a s s o c i a t i o n ’s confe rence re c e i ve the journal)

2. Problem of regular publishing Don’t sell subscription,but advertise and sell individual products.

• Reward excellent reviewers with letters that they can use in their promotion and tenure dossier; • Treat authors with respect for they often make good reviewers. There was a free discussion about finding and keeping good reviewers, which was moderated by Bruce Squires. One of the participants mentioned that the review process could vary in different cultures such as refraining from criticizing more senior researchers. Some editors said that it was difficult to keep the peer review process anonymous in countries where there were few specialists in each medical field writing articles. There was a question about authors nominating the reviewers for their own article and it was said that the author could always suggest names but it was up to the editor to select the reviewer.There was also discussion as to who should make the final decision to accept an article.Voting was recommended for small journals. The final decision can also be taken by final consensus of the editorial board.

• High quality in medical science and medical practice:the role of medical editors

Dr Ana Marusic illustrated her point through the history of the Croatian Medical Journal that suc- ceeded in being indexed in Medline after six years of existence. She also reported that the editorial board of her journal invests in potential authors through organizing writing workshops in medical schools.She described the role of the editor of small journals as that of a “shepherd” and edu- cator. Re-writing articles submitted in Croatian into English is currently done in the CMJ. Her experience of giving free access online to her journal was positive since it increased the number of subscriptions.

•Personal development plans for editors

Tim Albert who moderated group discussions about the strengths,challenges,opportunities and development needs of editors introduced the subject.The development needs identified by editors follow: • Improving journal distribution mechanisms • Strengthening technological infrastructure and the skills to use it (in-house publishing including desktop publishing skills) • Strengthening editorial, production and marketing skills • Fund raising • Sustaining journal publication over time

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• Setting up evaluation mechanisms to take into account the needs of readers, reviewers,edi tors and authors • Skills and means to build web-sites to give greater visibility to journals

•Peer review dilemmas for editors,authors and reviewers

The participants were split into four groups to discuss four case studies submitted by the Council on Publication Ethics (COPE).Each group analysed the case according to the suggested approaches. (See Annex 6 to Annex 11 for full presentations)

ITEM 6 - Training workshop: second day (sessions 13-16)

• Financing,production,marketing and dissemination

Bruce Squires based his talk about funding of biomedical journals on WAME membership data.On September 28, 2002, WAME comprised 801 members from 65 countries, representing 488 journals,16 were African.Advertising,membership dues and subscriptions equally constituted the primary sources for three-quarters of all the member WAME journals, but for only one-half of the WAME African journals, which tended to rely more on governmental or institutional support. Pippa Smart,INASP, reviewed the various aspects of the journal production and their cost.She talked about the quality of the presentation, the journal specification which should be appropriate to the contents, the colours,the size, the number of copies printed, the materials used, the typesetting (online and print). She invited the participants to review regularly the journal workflow, make a careful selection of suppliers and carry out quality control of their published products. The problems of marketing and distribution of medical journals were discussed among four groups of participants. Hereafter follows a summary of the discussions (submitted by A. Marusic,WAME):

• National, regional and international visibility of medical journals

Chris Zielinski introduced this session, offering some views on a definition of “visibility” and why it was important for a journal to be visible. He referred to the ExtraMED project,which was one of the larger activities aimed at helping developing country journals to gain visibility. There were new barriers and opportunities in the electronic age, and he presented some ideas on how journals might build their capacity in this area. International visibility for medical journals could be achieved through indexing in Medline and Sheldon Kotzin, NLM, presented the criteria used for selecting journals for indexing in that database. Decisions on what journals should be indexed were made by the Director of NLM who generally accepted the recommendations of an NLM advisory committee – the Literature Selection Technical Review Committee or LSTRC for short.There are some criteria that LSTRC members use to guide them in making their recommendations about journals to index:1) scientific merit;2) importance;3) quality of editorial work;and,4) overall production.Sheldon Kotzin went on to give some practical advice to African medical editors to succeed in having their journal indexed in Medline and encouraged them to apply. To illustrate the new policy of Medline to have journals that have been reviewed, but have a borderline score to be submitted through an electronic format, Nancy Kamau, KEMRI Library, shared with the participants her experience of having the African Journal of Health Sciences indexed in Medline. The Regional visibility of medical journals (see also Session 5, p.6 for the IMEMR presentation by Najeeb Al-Shorbaji) was illustrated by presentations of two regional indexing databases supported by WHO: LILACS for Latin American health literature and the African Index Medicus for

7 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

African health publications. Regina Figuereido Castro, BIREME, described the raison d’être of LILACS as being improved bibliographic control of published health science research in Latin America, the quasi absence of this health literature in international databases and the need to record regional grey literature in the field of public health. LILACS indexes some 618 medical journals from all the Latin American and Caribbean countries. It contains more than 300 000 records and an average of 23000 records per year are added to the database. Regina Castro stressed the potential usefulness of LILACS for African Lusophone countries. Irene Bertrand, WHO Library, made a brief presentation on the African Index Medicus outlining its role as com- plementing MEDLINE and its specific functions to ensure that African research findings are known within the continent. Participants were disappointed to learn of its state of suspended publication and recommendations were made by this forum,as well as the NLM and other international bodies present to support its resuscitation.

• Internet publishing problems:pitfalls and solutions

Pippa Smart introduced the session by asking a fundamental question:“What is the need for an online journal? Is the online version expected to replace the print version?” She then went through a number of points that editors should consider before going “on line”. Andrea Gonçalves, BIREME, presented the SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) methodology that had been developed by BIREME and a Brazilian research-funding agency,FAFPESP, for Latin American countries.The main objectives of SciELO are set to strengthen regional and local scientific communication to produce high quality journals and to develop a project for electronic publishing. All SciELO journals are peer reviewed and include title, abstracts and keywords in English.A thematic SciELO site has been created for the public health field and it includes health journals from Brazil, Mexico, Spain, PAHO and WHO, all indexed in Medline and available through PubMed.Other countries will soon join.BIREME which is also the WHO regional library for Latin America, reiterated its offer to share its experience and the SciELO methodology with other WHO regions,notably the African region.This offer generated a lot of interest among African medical editors. (See Annex 12 to Annex 15 for full presentations)

ITEM 7 - Creation of FAME (Forum of African Medical Editors)

The fifteen African medical editors attending the meeting convened a special meeting among themselves on Wednesday 16 October.They reviewed the problems faced by African medical journals. They based their discussion on the results of an informal questionnaire on the “ten most pressing problems faced by editors”.They decided to come together into the “Forum of African Medical Editors” (FAME) to promote the interests of African medical journals.A steering committee was designated to define the objectives of the Association.This steering committee is composed of: Professor James Tumwine, Chair (Uganda), Dr Davy Koech, Secretary (Kenya), Professor David Ofori Adjei (Ghana), Dr Rassul Nala (Mozambique), Dr Fidelis Morfaw (WHO/AFRO), Dr Siaka Sidibe (Mali), Dr Daniel Ncayiyana (South Africa) and a representative of WHO/TDR. FAME headquarters will be located at KEMRI in Nairobi.The first meeting of the FAME Steering Committee should take place in Nairobi in February 2003. (See Annex 16 for Minutes of a special meeting of African Medical Editors,WHO/TDR,Geneva,Wednesday, 16 October 2002)

ITEM 8 - Conclusions and recommendations of the meeting

During the final session, all the representatives from the bodies attending this meeting expressed their willingness to work with FAME to strengthen African medical journals: Professor James Tumwine, Chairman of the FAME Steering Committee, confirmed the creation of

8 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1 the Forum of African Medical Editors and Dr Davy Koech, Secretary of the FAME Steering Committee, read a declaration on behalf of the Forum. Dr Fabio Zicker said that TDR would continue to play a catalytic role in capacity building through FAME until there was a critical mass of good African medical journals with significant global visibility. Ana Marusic, on behalf of WAME,listed several activities that her association carries out and which could be of use to African medical journals: organization of regional training workshops for writ- ers and editors,partnerships between journals,exchange of journals between libraries,the WAME website which contains many information resources for editors (www.wame.org). Delphine Grynszpan from BioMed Central, offered advice and expertise on online solutions. Karen Hofman from Fogarty International Centre, which specializes in funding capacity building and training, said that she found the meeting very helpful. She expected to obtain from FAME more specific information on training needs. Pippa Smart informed FAME that the strength of INASP lies mainly in its capacity to promote networking, twinning and to administer training workshops on the use of internet and good editorial practices and that INASP would be pleased to collaborate with FAME. Annette Flanagin from CSE, pledged to promote the awareness of African journals and FAME within the CSE. She reminded participants that CSE organizes courses for editors on various subjects and that the CSE Web site is available for any editor to access. She encouraged participants to apply for scholarships for the next International Congress on Peer Review in Biomedical Publication in September 2005 and also for the JAMA International Fellowship in Medical Journalism. Regina Castro from BIREME offered her institution’s expertise and experience in setting up databases. BIREME can provide training in the SciELO methodology for African medical journals through WHO/AFRO. She encouraged African countries to use the LILACS database and the Virtual Health Library on Internet. Chris Zielinski expressed hope that the regional Index Medici could be linked to full text materials contained in ExtraMED, SciELO and other full-text projects that focused on developing country journals once all the files are digitized. He proposed a project in which the digitization of ExtraMED could be linked to a capacity building activity among African journal editors and pledged to participate in drawing up such a proposal. Sheldon Kotzin,executive Editor of Medline pledged to work closely with African medical journals in order to have more of them indexed in Medline. He also hoped that the African Index Medicus could be revived.He was also quite favourable that some links be established between Medline and other regional medical databases. Susan Groener,TMIH,offered to collaborate with African medical journal editors through the various mechanisms already in place in her journal. Dominique Richard-Lenoble, Cahiers Santé Editor, and Bertrand Mafart,Tropical Medicine Editor, offered to organize a training course for medical journal editors in French speaking countries in Africa.The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and the Institut de Médecine tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées in Marseilles (France) would sponsor this course.

Action taken and next steps:

After acknowledging the complexity of the African continent, and the common constraints affecting publication of medical journals from Africa, the Meeting was unanimous in calling for the creation of mechanism(s) for the coordination of activities related to medical journals. The establishment of Forum for African Medical Editors (FAME) was proposed and unanimously endorsed.

9 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Annex 1 List of participants

Speakers / Facilitators

Mr Tim Albert Ms Susanne Groener Tim Albert Training, Managing Editor Paper Mews Court Tropical Medicine & International Health 284 High Street, Dorking London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Surrey RH4 1QT, United Kingdom Keppel Street, Email: [email protected] London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom Tel:+44 1 306 877993 e-mail: [email protected] Fax: +44 1 306 877929 Tel:+44 207 927 2433 Fax: +44 207 637 4314 Dr Najeeb Al-Shorbaji Regional Advisor Dr Delphine Grynszpan Health Information Management BioMed Central, Middlesex House Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean 34-42 Cleveland Street World Health Organization, London W1 4LB, United Kingdom P.O. Box 7608 Email: [email protected] Cairo 11371, Egypt Email: [email protected] Tel:+44 20 7323 0323 Tel:+20 2 760 2535 Fax: + 44 20 7580 1938 Fax: +20 2 276 5424 Dr Karen J. Hofman Ms Regina C. Figueiredo Castro Director Coordinator, Health Scientific Communication Division of Advanced Studies and Policy Analysis BIREME/PAHO/WHO Fogarty International Center Rua Botucatu, 862, 4023-901 National Institutes of Health São Paulo - SP, Brazil Bldg 16, 16 Center Drive, MSC 6705, Email: [email protected] Bethesda, MD 20892-6705, USA Tel::+55 11 5576 9834 Email: [email protected] Fax: +55 11 5575 8868 Tel +1 301 496 1491 Website: http://www.bireme.br Fax +1 301 496 8496

Ms Annette Flanagin, RN,MA, President Ms Nancy Kamau Council of Science Editors (CSE) Librarian Director Kenya Medical Research Institute JAMA Programs & International Activities P.O. Box 54840,Nairobi, Kenya JAMA, 515 N State St Email: [email protected] Chicago, IL 60610 Tel:+254 2 722 541 USA Fax: +254 2 715105 Email: [email protected] Tel:+1 312 464 2432 Fax: +1 312 464 5824 Mr Sheldon Kotzin Executive Editor of Medline/Index medicus Ms Andréa Gonçalves, Chief, Bibliographic Services Division Manager, SciELO Unit, US National Library of Medicine BIREME/PAHO/WHO, Rua Botucatu,862, 38A, 4N419 (Mail Stop 49) 04023-901 São Paulo, SP, Brazil 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Email: [email protected] MD 20894-6705, USA www.scielo.org | www.bireme.br Email: [email protected] Tel:+55 11 5576 9863 Tel:+1 301 496 6217 Fax: +55 115575 8868 Fax: +1 301 496 0822

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Professor Dominique Richard-Lenoble Mr Bryan Pearson Editeur (Observer from Mera Medical Education Cahiers d’Etudes et de Recherches Resource Africa) Francophones/Santé FSG Communications Ltd. Service Parasitologie - Médecine Tropicale, Vine House, Fair, Green Reach Faculté de Médecine, Cambridge, CB5 0JD, United Kingdom 2bis, bd Tonnellé, Email: [email protected] 37032 Tours Cedex,France Tel: +44 (0)1638 743633 Email 1: [email protected] Fax: +44 (0) 1638 743998 Email 2: [email protected] Tel: +33 2 47 36 610 Dr Tessa Richards Fax: +33 2 47 37 69 55 Assistant Editor British Medical Journal (BMJ) Dr B. Mafart BMA House,Tavistock Square, Editor assistant London WC1H 9JR,United Kingdom Médecine Tropicale - BP 46 Email: [email protected] Le Pharo, 13998 Marseille Armées Tel: +44 20 7383 6418 France Fax: +44 20 7387 4499 Email: [email protected] Tel: +33 4 91 15 01 47 Ms Pippa Smart Fax: +33 4 91 15 01 29 International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) Dr Ana Marusic 27 Park End Street President Oxford, OX1 1HU, United Kingdom World Association of Medical Editors Email: [email protected] (WAME) Editor-in-Chief Tel: +44 1865 249 909 Croatian Medical Journal Fax: +44 1865 251 060 Zagreb University School of Medicine Salata 3, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia Dr Bruce P. Squires Email: [email protected] Secretary Tel: +385 1 456 6913 World Association of Medical Editors Fax: +385 1 459 0222 (WAME) 96 Frank Street,Apt. 1, Dr Daniel J.Ncayiyana Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2P OX2 Editor Email: [email protected] South African Medical Journal Tel: +01 613 237 6202 Durban Institute of Technology Fax: +01 613 237 0009 P.O. Box 1334,Durban 4000 South Africa Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 31 308 5104 Fax: +27 31 308 5103

Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh (Observer from HIF-net at WHO) Programme Manager International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) 27 Park End Street Oxford, OX1 1HU, United Kingdom Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1865 248124 Fax: +44 (0)1865 251060

11 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

African Medical Journal Editors

Professor Oluwole Gbolagunte Ajao Professor James Komlavi West African Journal of Medicine Revue des Sciences Médicales et Dept of Surgery, College of Medicine Biologiques du Togo Unviversity of Ibadan, Ibadan Oyo State Faculté Mixte de Médecine et Nigeria de Pharmacie de Lomé Email: [email protected] B.P. 1515, Lomé,Togo Tel: +234 2 231 5161 Email:[email protected] Tel/Fax: +234 2 241 1768 Tel. and Fax:+228 225 1366

Professor Yemane Berhane Professor G. I. Muguti Editor in Chief Editor Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Central African Journal of Medicine Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health P.O. Box A 195, Avondale Department of Community Health,Addis Harare, Zimbabwe Ababa University, P.O. Box 32812 Email: [email protected] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +263 4 791 631 / 630-9 Email 1: [email protected] Fax: +263 4 791 995 / 724 912 Email 2: [email protected] Tel: +251 1 513 715 Dr Adamson Muula Fax: +251 1 517 701 Editor Malawi Medical Journal,College of Medicine Professor Sileshi Lulseged Desta Private Bag 360,Chichiri Editor Blantyre 3,Malawi Ethiopian Medical Journal Email 1: [email protected] P. O. Box 3472 Email 2: [email protected] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel 1: +265 1 669 682 (home) Email: [email protected] Tel 2: +2651 1 671 911 (office) Tel. 1: +251 1 533 742 (office) Fax: +265 675 774 / 673 102 Tel. 2: +251 9228 496 (cell) Fax: +251 1 533 742 Dr Rassul Nala Revista Médica de Moçambique Ms Rosemary Wambui Kinyua, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Assistant Editorial Manager Av. Eduardo Mondlane/Salvador Allende The East African Medical Journal P.O. Box 264, P.O. Box 41632,(GPO Code 00100) Maputo 258-1,Moçambique Nairobi, Kenya Email 1: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email 2: [email protected] Tel: +254 2 712 010 or 716811/714991 Tel: +258 1 431 103 Fax: +254 2 724 617 or 717170 Fax: +258 1 431 103

Dr Davy Koech,Editor Professor David Ofori-Adjei African Journal of Health Sciences Ghana Medical Journal, GMA House African Forum for Health Services P.O. Box 1596 P. O. Box 54840 Accra, Greater Accra Region,Ghana Nairobi, Kenya Email 1: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email 2: [email protected] Tel: +254 2 722 541 Tel: +233 21 501180 / 670510 Fax: +254 2 720 030 Fax: +233 21 670511 / 502182

12 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Dr Siaka Sidibe Professor James K.Tumwine Mali Médical Editor Service de Radiologie et de Médecine African Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine nucléaire Makerere University Hôpital du Point “G” P.O. 7072, Kampala, Uganda BP 333, Bamako, Mali Email 1: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email 2: [email protected] Tel: +223 22 50 02 Tel:+256 41 531 875 or 530021 Fax: +223 22 29790 Fax: +256 41 530022

WHO Secretariat

Ms Barbara Aronson Dr Susan E. Holck HINARI Director (Health InterNetwork Access to Research Health Information, Management and Initiative), Dissemination Library and Information Networks for WHO/HQ, Geneva Knowledge, Email: [email protected] WHO/HQ/IMD/LNK, Geneva Ms Shyama Kuruvilla Email: [email protected] Scientist Evidence and Information for Policy, Research Ms Irene Bertrand Policy and Cooperation Library and Information Networks for WHO/HQ, Geneva Knowledge Email: [email protected] WHO/HQ, Geneva Email: [email protected] Mrs Gillian Lancaster Coordination Assistant Ms Jocelyne Bruyère Research Capability Strengthening Technical Assistant UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases WHO/HQ, Geneva WHO/HQ, Geneva Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Dr Paul-Samson Lusamba-Dikassa Ms Edith Certain Regional Adviser Information Officer Communicable Diseases Surveillance and UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme Response for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases Division of Communicable Diseases WHO/HQ, Geneva Prevention and Control Email: [email protected] World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa Harare, Zimbabwe Dr Lester Chitsulo Email: [email protected] Research Capability Strengthening Tel.1 321 733 38264 UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases WHO/HQ, Geneva Email: [email protected]

13 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Dr Hooman Momen Mrs Christine Terrier Editor Administrative Assistant Bulletin of the World Health Organization Research Capability Strengthening Health Information, Management and UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme Dissemination for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases WHO/HQ, Geneva WHO/HQ, Geneva Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Dr Carlos Morel Mr Steven Wayling Director Technical Officer UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme Research Capability Strengthening for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme WHO/HQ, Geneva for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases Email: [email protected] WHO/HQ, Geneva Email: [email protected] Dr Fidelis Morfaw Chief Dr Fabio Zicker Publication and Language Services Coordinator World Health Organization Research Capability Strengthening Regional Office for Africa UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme Cité du Djoue, P. O. Box 06 for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases Brazzaville, Congo WHO/HQ, Geneva Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel:+321 95 39123 Fax: +321 95 39 500 / 242 83 95 00 Dr Christopher T. Zielinski (ExtraMED), Consultant Dr Tikki E.Pang Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals Director WHO/HQ, Geneva Research Policy and Cooperation Email: [email protected] WHO/HQ, Geneva Email: [email protected]

14 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Agenda Annex 2

Monday, 14 October 2002 (8.30-18:00)

1. Opening remarks (Dr Carlos Morel,Director CDS/TDR,Dr Susan Holck, Director, EIP/IMD (30’) 2. Objectives of the meeting and expected results - Dr Fabio Zicker,TDR/WHO (15’) 3. Current state of medical journal publishing in the world and in Africa .Presentations followed by moderated plenary discussion,chaired by Ms Annette Flanagin,CSE (9.15-10.30) 3.1. Current Trends and Challenges in Medical Journal Publishing - Dr Hooman Momen, WHO/IMD Bulletin (20’) 3.2. African Medical Journals: Report from a questionnaire survey - Ms Edith Certain, TDR/WHO (20’) 3.3. Discussion (35’)

(10:30-11:00 Coffee Break)

4. The place of health research conducted in Africa in a few wide circulation medical journals. Panel discussion chaired by Dr Tessa Richards, BMJ (11.00-12.30)

Panellists: Ms Susanne Groener (Tropical Medicine & International Health) Professor Dominique Richard Lenoble (Cahiers Santé) Dr Bernard Mafart (Médecine Tropicale) Dr Daniel J. Ncayiyana (South African Medical Journal) Dr Tessa Richards (British Medical Journal)

(10-minute presentations followed by moderated plenary discussion)

(12:30-14:00 Lunch Break)

5. National, regional and international visibility of health research, presentation and panel discussion.Topics introduced by Dr Tikki Pang,WHO/RPC, followed by a coordinated plenary discussion. (14.00-15.30) 5.1. Rethinking the role of national health research publication - Ms Shyama Kuruvilla, WHO/RPC (15’) 5.2. PubMed:Giving visibility to medical journals and research results - Mr Sheldon Kotzin, Medline Executive Editor (15’) 5.3. The Regional Index Medicus: EMRO and AFRO - Dr Najeeb Al Shorbaji, EMRO/WHO (20’) 5.4. BiomedCentral:open access journal publishing - Dr Delphine Grynszpan, BioMedCentral (15’)

15 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

(15:30-16:00 Coffee Break)

6. Existing networks and resources for medical editors:Topics introduced by WAME followed by a coordinated plenary discussion (16h30-18h) 6.1. WAME: network and on-line resources - Dr Ana Marusic 6.2. CSE:Council of Science Editors - Ms Annette Flanagin 6.3. Fogarty International Center:Training grants for medical journalists and editors - Dr Karen Hofman 6.4. INASP workshops for journal editors - Ms Pippa Smart 6.5. Tunbridge Wells course for editors - Mr Tim Albert

(18:15 Cocktail at WHO restaurant)

Tuesday, 15 October (8:30-17:30) :Training Workshop

7. Meeting International Standards: quality and ethics in research and publishing - Topics introduced by Dr Bruce Squires, WAME, followed by a coordinated plenary discussion. (8.30-10.30) 7.1 Essential information about a journal - Ms Barbara Aronson,WHO/LNK (15’) 7.2 Role of the editor in an African medical journal : How to select and commission material for a journal - Dr Dan Ncayiyana, SAMJ (20’) 7.3 Understanding, awareness, and use of the peer review process in the conduct of biomedical research and publication - Ms Annette Flanagin,CSE (30’)

(10:30-11:00 Coffee Break) 8. Finding and keeping good reviewers:an exchange of experiences.Discussion introduced by Dr Bruce Squires,WAME (11.00-12.00)

(12:30-14:00 Lunch Break)

9. High quality in medical science and medical practice: the role of medical editors, group discussion introduced by Dr Ana Marusic,WAME (14.00-15.00) 10. Personal development plans for editors - Mr Tim Albert,TA Training (15.00-15.30)

(15:30-16:00 Coffee Break)

11. Peer review dilemmas for editors, authors, and reviewers.Ms Annette Flanagin,CSE; Dr Ana Marusic,WAME; Mr Tim Albert,TATraining (16.00-17.30)

16 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Wednesday, 16 October (8:30-17:30)

12. Recapitulation of day 2 (8.30-9.00) – Edith Certain (TDR/WHO) 13. Financing,production,marketing and dissemination - Topics introduced by INASP and WAME followed by a coordinated plenary discussion (9-10.30) 13.1 Funding of biomedical journals: WAME membership data - Dr B.Squires,WAME (20’) 13.2 Production - is it worth the cost? - Ms Pippa Smart,INASP (20’) 13.3 Problems for marketing medical journals at national level, and at international level. Tackling the distribution problems - Dr Ana Marusic,WAME (20’)

(10:30-11:00 Coffee Break)

14. National, regional and international visibility - Topics introduced by Mr Chris Zielinski, WHO/HTP and Mr Sheldon Kotzin,Medline Executive Editor, followed by discussion coordinated by Mr Chris Zielinski (11.00- 12.30) 14.1 Journal Selection for MEDLINE® - Mr Sheldon Kotzin, Medline Executive Editor (20’) 14.2 Experience from the African Journal of Health Sciences - Ms Nancy Kamau, KEMRI 14.3 The SCIELO project and LILACS: Latin-American medical journals on-line- Ms Regina Castro, BIREME and the African Index Medicus - Irene Bertrand 14.4 Language barriers and issues of duplicate publishing - Dr Ana Marusic,WAME

(12:30-14:00 Lunch Break)

15. Internet publishing: problems pitfalls and solutions. (Ms Andrea Gonçalves SciELO/BIREME; Ms Pippa Smart,INASP (14.00-15.30)

(15:30-16:00 Coffee Break)

16. What can be done next? Developing a technical framework for WHO/TDR and partners support (group discussion chaired by Dr Fabio Zicker,TDR).

Panellists: Dr Ana Marusic (WAME) Dr Delphine Grynszpan (BioMedCentral) Dr Bruce Squire (WAME) Dr Dan Ncayiyana (SAMJ) Dr Karen Hofman (FIC) Ms Pippa Smart (INASP) Ms Annette Flanagin (CSE)

Plenary discussion: Summary and recommendations

17 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Annex 3.1 Current Trends and Challenges in Medical Journal Publishing

Hooman Momen Editor Bulletin of the World Health Organization World Health Organization EIP/IMD/BLT 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland e-mail: [email protected] Telephone:+41 22 791 1162 Facsimile: +41 22 791 4894

Electronic publishing and the internet have bought major changes and will make further modifications to academic publishing and to the traditional relationships between editors,authors, readers, reviewers, libraries and publishers. User behavior and the needs and desires of authors and readers must be fully understood in this new environment.On the one hand readers desire cheap and fast access to quality information that is relevant to their needs and interests. On the other hand authors desire rapid publication and high visibility for their manuscripts.They increasingly want an author friendly copyright that while incorporating the principle “that all use is fair use” also protects the integrity of their texts and the misappropriation of their intellectual property. Both categories of users are also increasingly demanding open access to the scientific and academic literature. Publishers are faced with meeting these challenges within a financially sustainable model where they have to finance the cost of the electronic and on-line technology and maintain the funds for editorial costs.They face threats to their revenue from open access web-sites and potential sav- ings from their print versions are still limited.An unstable technological environment adds further complexity to their tasks.Libraries are facing increases both in the number of publications and in the subscription price to the individual journals which is outstripping their limited budgets.They are also having to share with publishers responsibilities for archiving of digital data , an area for long their exclusive domain. In these bewildering times editors are also faced with an array of challenges. How to modernize their editorial offices using the latest software and on-line technologies? How to provide attractive and interesting web-sites for their journals.What format to produce their journal. How to maintain the quality and authority of their publication while attracting the interest of readers and authors? They must also prepare themselves for the future. The current movements for open access and self archiving by authors of their manuscripts will bring fresh challenges which will add to those brought about by further advances in technology.Already portals and search engines are becoming the de facto interfaces for information while the growth of non text digital information poses challenges in integration with text items, peer-reviewing and indexing. Among all this turbulence editors must not loose focus of their main task to improve the editorial content of their journal and indirectly the quality of research in their field and to guarantee the quality, confidentiality and integrity of the review process.

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Draft report of a TDR survey Annex 3.2 of African medical journals

Edith Certain UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) World Health Organization Avenue Appia 1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland email: [email protected]

Background of the survey:

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) is a global programme of scientific collaboration. Established in 1975 and co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO), it aims at coordinating, supporting and influencing global efforts to combat major diseases of the poor and disadvantaged.TDR’s disease portfolio is monitored by TDR Joint Coordinating Board to ensure that it reflects and responds to public health needs. Currently TDR’s portfolio includes 10 diseases which are: malaria, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis,African trypanoso- miasis,Chagas disease, leishmaniasis,leprosy and , since 1999,TB and dengue. As reflected in its title, the TDR Programme has two main functions, research and training, and our meeting is meant to contribute to both. Through a wide range of grants,TDR supports major health research projects in African countries as well as in other regions, the results of which are published in well known biomedical journals. An unpublished recent bibliometric study to assess the impact of one specific TDR grant on published research between 1994-1997, showed that 85 % of TDR grant recipients published in mainstream biomedical journals with a high impact factor rather than in their national medical journals.Although such publication record is certainly a personal achievement for these researchers,most of these research results are cited by scientists outside of Africa and the impact of this research may not reach local researchers, health professionals and policy makers in Africa. African medical journals should constitute a vehicle of choice to disseminate the results of African health research but other than a few notable exceptions,most of these are unknown outside their country of origin.The TDR survey aimed to identify existing African medical journals and their editors, determine their editorial practices, assess their needs and learn about the concerns of their editors.The results of this survey will provide a basis for discussion during this meeting and help TDR and its partners in setting up a strategy to raise the visibility and impact of African medical journals at national and international levels.

Methods

We started by establishing a preliminary list using multiple resources such as the on line Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory, the ExtraMed Consortium List,the WHO Library database.The list was posted on two discussion lists,AHILA-net and on HIF-net,to get feedback,corrections and additions from African librarians and information specialists. The questionnaire designed by WAME (World Association of Medical Editors) for their world wide assessment of medical editors’ practices and needs ((1)) was used for the survey. It was simplified

19 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

and amended to collect data mainly on the contact information, the characteristics of the journal, the editorial practices, the visibility of African medical journals in the international health community, the editors’ access to internet,their needs and interest in having training and a computer network to communicate with their colleagues throughout Africa.The questionnaire was made available in English and in French. A total of 109 questionnaires was sent:32 by e-mail ,32 by registered post mail or courier and 45 were mailed by the WHO Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region to African countries that are covered by that Office: Sudan, Libya, Egypt, Somalia, Djibouti, etc.The questionnaire was also posted on the following electronic discussion lists:AHILA-net,AFRO-net and HIF-net .Lastly it was sent to the WHO country offices in Africa, with the request to forward the questionnaire to the medical journals in that country. Editors invited to this meeting were specifically requested to fill out this questionnaire.

Results

A total of 63 questionnaires from 26 African countries were completed and returned. Forty two (42) replies could be traced as having been returned in response to TDR mailing and 21 were spontaneous replies originating from participants to the discussion lists or from WHO country offices.The response rate varied according to the regions of Africa: 22 replies (35%) came from Western Africa, 15 (24%) from Northern Africa, 12 (19%) from Southern Africa, 8 (13%) from Eastern Africa and 6 (9%) from Central Africa (see table 2 in annex for breakdown by country). The replies were received within two months from the date of distribution. Contact information was compiled in an updated list of African medical journals. Journals,created between 1980 to 2001, represent 59 % (37) of the total while older journals created before 1979 represent 41 % (26). 60% (38) of these African medical journals have an ISSN.

Figure 1: Creation of Medical Journals in Africa 1884-2001

15 Year of First Publication

Number of journals 5

0 1884-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-2001 Year range

Only 29 journals provided a circulation figure while others only mentioned “Africa” (2), “International” (5) and “national” (12). Circulation is below 1500 for 14 journals and below 5000 for 10 others. Only 5 journals have a circulation ranging from 6500 to 18000. Sixty two per cent (39) of these journals publish at least 4 times a year. Sixty seven per cent publish in English while thirty two per cent publish in French. One respondent publishes in Portuguese. Other languages such as Afrikaans, Malagasy and Arabic are mostly used in abstracts. Eighty four per cent (53) of African medical journals are owned by an academic institution or association.Advertisements for 39 journals (62%) and subscription fees for 45 others (71%) are the main sources of funding . Twenty nine (29) journals (46%) are supported in part by membership dues and grants contribute to the financial balance for 30 (47%).

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Figure 2: Funding of African Medical Journals

50 45 39 40 29 30 30

Number of journals 2 0 Advertisements Subscription fees Membership dues Grants Other Funding sources

Figure 3: Sources of funding by ownership categories

40 Advertisement Subscription fees Number of journals funded 20 Membership dues 0 Grants Academic Commercial Individual Type of ownership

Eighty four per cent (53) of editors publish at least 40% of submitted articles. Sixty six per cent solicit articles.

Table 4: Percentage of submitted articles published

Percentage of submitted articles Number of journals Percentage published

Below 20% 3 5% 20% to 40% 7 11% 40 to 60% 15 24% 60 to 80% 28 44% Above 80% 10 16% TOTAL 63 100%

However, 48% report that they fail to publish regularly because of lack of money and 21% because of lack of manuscript submission.

21 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Figure 5: Reasons for failing to publish regular Journal number

60 50 40 30 20 10 Journal number 0 Academic Commercial Individual other Ownership and irregular publishing

Ownership Lack of Money Lack of Manuscript

The vast majority of editors reported publishing new research (96%) and even original research (79%), reviews (90%) and letters (68%).

Figure 6:Types of material published by African medical journals

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Research Original Reviews Letters of Research Editor Editor Original Reviews Letters to Research Research

Peer review systems are reported by 92% of editors.Out of these, 17% have to pay their reviewers and have difficulties in meeting this cost. Peer review committees are made up of editorial board members (65%), reviewers in the country (88%) and qualified reviewers in any country (57%). External reviewers are mainly used for new research (91%) and reviews (64%).There does not seem to be a standard for the composition of the peer review committees and in most cases there is a mix of these four above components. A specific set of instructions for reviewers is always used by 59% of the respondents and 33% systematically require their reviewers to disclose their conflicts of interests.

Figure 7: Disclosure of conflicts of interest (N=58)

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Abstracting and indexing in international databases is uncommon; only 15 editors (24%) reported that their journal is indexed in Medline. Out of these 15 journals,4 are from South Africa,5 are from Nigeria and 2 from Egypt. Ethiopia,Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe each reported having one journal indexed in that database. Another important database for international visibility is the Web of Science (comprising the Science Citation Index,the Social Science Index and Current Contents).It is very much used nowadays to evaluate the scientific output and impact of a researcher or an institution. Only 8 of those journals already indexed in Medline were also present in the Web of Science.The Regional Index Medici,promoted and managed by the WHO Regional Offices,are better known to African medical editors since 17 of them reported being indexed either by the African Index Medicus or the Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Figure 8: Indexing in International or regional databases Total number of journals 63

Total number of journals 13

-7 ISI AIM Biosis Pascal IMEMR Medline EMBase ExtraMed CAB Abstracts Number of journals indexed

Eighty nine per cent of respondents (56) have access to the Internet,86% (54) have e-mail and 71% (43) can search the World Wide Web.Twenty nine per cent (18) of African medical journals have their website and an electronic version of their journal.African medical journals go on-line through various initiatives such as AJOL (African Journals On Line) by INASP.The Seychelles Medical Journal only publishes in electronic format . Ninety four per cent (59) of respondents would welcome the provision of training for themselves and for newly appointed journal editors in their region.Ninety eight per cent (62) of respondents would like access to a computer network through which they could communicate with medical editors in Africa.

Discussion

The TDR survey generated a lot of interest among African medical journal editors.However, it was necessary to re-send the questionnaire through multiple channels in order to reach many of them. Much of the information available in specialized directories on these journals is outdated, which did not facilitate contacting their editors.

23 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

The survey shows that,over the last twenty years,37 medical journals were launched in Africa and most of them are academic journals.This demonstrates an eagerness on the part of the African medical community to disseminate their medical research and clinical findings.However, many editors report problems in financing their journals and rely heavily on external funds which may not come regularly.This has a strong impact on the regular publishing of the journals and their circulation which remains very low. The majority of African medical editors (92%) reported using some kind of peer review system. This practice has also become the norm in mainstream medical journals and is one of the main criteria for a journal to be indexed in major databases.The original WAME questionnaire did not provide a clear definition of “peer review” because “the interpretation of the term was intention- ally left to the respondent for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of the varying ways in which the term is used by medical editors” (1). In the case of the TDR survey, no attempt has been made to define the term either. It seems however that the peer review concept is widely applied although the modus operandi varies widely. From the survey, it was not possible to determine which quality standards were used to accept or reject articles. One can only observe that the journals which are the most restrictive in accepting articles for publication and do not solicit articles (the South African Medical Journal,the West African Medical Journal,the African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences) are also the ones indexed in Medline. Quality of articles and international readership may not always be linked and the survey did not assess the local readership and influence of a particular medical journal.The fact, however, that African Medical journals are rarely indexed in international databases is one of the important factors which make them invisible and consequently renders them less attractive to African researchers publishing their results. Some 7 national medical journals (21%) reported failing to publish because of lack of manuscripts. Reaching as far as possible international quality standards in the peer review process and publishing of African medical journals may possibly revert the current trend of African researchers publishing mostly abroad. Establishing an electronic discussion group for African medical editors would be feasible and be a way to share editorial expertise and skills across the continent. Training provision for editors would also help in raising the quality and visibility of African medical journals.

Conclusions

This survey covered a limited number of the medical editors in Africa. However, the replies from those we did reach were returned quickly and many respondents expressed the wish to know the results of the survey.The picture we draw from this survey is that African medical journals do exist although the rest of the world does not know about them. Many African journals have been created during the last ten years and they have put in place some editorial structure and practices. However, some issues raised by this survey need to looked at : the peer review process that need to be standardized, some quality criteria that need to be agreed upon by the profession, some funding mechanisms that would insure regular publishing, some ways to induce African medical researchers to publish also in their national journals.These are only a few questions that we hope the delegates will discuss during the next three days.

References

(1) Good CD, Parente ST, Rennie D, Fletcher SW.A worldwide assessment of medical journal editors’ practices and needs—results of a survey by the World Association of Medical Editors. S Afr Med J 1999; 89(4):397-401.

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Table 2: Breakdown of replies by country

Web of Regional Peer Medline Country Journal Title Science Index reviewed indexed indexed Medicus

Algeria Les Cahiers de la Santé YES NO NO NO

Journal Algérien de Algeria NO NO NO NO Médecine Algeria Algérie Santé YES NO NO NO

Journal de la Société de Benin YES NO NO YES Biologie Clinique Revue Médicale de Burundi YES NO NO NO Bujumbura Cameroon Doctor's News NO NO NO NO

Congo (D.R.) Congo Médical YES NO NO YES

Congo (D.R.) La Tribune Médicale NO NO NO NO

Revue Internationale Côte d'Ivoire YES NO NO NO des Sciences Médicales

Journal of Hepatology, Egypt Gastroenterology and YES NO NO NO Infectious Diseases

Bulletin of the Faculty Egypt of Pharmacy, Cairo YES NO NO NO University

Journal of the Egyptian Egypt YES YES NO YES Society of Parasitology Alexandria Medical Egypt YES YES NO YES Journal

Egyptian Journal of Egypt YES NO NO NO Veterinary Science

Bulletin of the Egypt Alexandria Faculty of YES NO YES YES Medicine

Egyptian Journal of Egypt Medical Laboratory YES NO NO NO Sciences Alexandria Journal of Egypt YES NO NO YES Pediatrics New Egyptian Journal Egypt NO NO NO YES of Medicine Ethiopian Journal of Ethiopia YES NO NO YES Health Development

Ethiopian Medical Ethiopia YES YES YES YES Journal

25 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Web of Regional Peer Medline Country Journal Title Science Index reviewed indexed indexed Medicus

Ghana Ghana Medical Journal YES NO NO NO

Ghana Health Courier (The) YES NO NO NO West African Journal Ghana YES YES YES NO of Medicine Guinea Guinée Médicale YES NO NO NO

Pharmaceutical Journal Kenya YES NO NO NO of Kenya

East African Medical Kenya YES YES YES NO Journal

Madagascar Gazety Medikaly YES NO NO NO

Malawi Malawi Medical Journal YES NO NO NO

Mali Mali Médical YES NO NO NO Morocco Maroc Médical YES NO NO YES Revista Medica de Mozambique YES NO NO YES Mozambique Nigerian Medical Nigeria YES NO NO NO Journal Nigerian Journal of Nigeria YES NO NO NO Clinical Practice African Journal of Nigeria YES YES NO NO Reproductive Health Nigerian Journal of Nigeria YES NO NO NO Paediatrics BMJ West Africa Nigeria YES YES YES NO Edition West African Journal Nigeria YES YES NO YES of Medicine African Journal of Nigeria Medicine and Medical YES YES NO NO Sciences Psychopathologie Senegal YES YES NO YES Africaine Senegal Santé Magazine YES NO NO NO Senegal Le Caducée YES NO NO NO Senegal Médecine Verte YES NO NO NO

Seychelles Medical and Seychelles YES NO NO NO Dental Journal

Sierra Leone Medical Sierra Leone YES NO NO YES and Dental Journal

Cardiovascular Journal South Africa YES YES YES NO of South Africa

South African Journal South Africa YES YES NO NO of Physiotherapy

26 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Web of Regional Peer Medline Country Journal Title Science Index reviewed indexed indexed Medicus

Occupational Health South Africa YES NO NO NO Southern Africa

CME- Continuing South Africa YES NO NO NO Medical Education

South Africa Family South Africa YES NO NO NO Practice

Geneeskunde / The South Africa YES NO NO NO Medicine Journal

South African Dental South Africa YES YES NO NO Journal

South African Medical South Africa YES YES YES NO Journal

Modern Medicine of South Africa NO NO NO YES South Africa

Tanzania Medical Tanzania YES NO NO NO Journal

Tanzania Health Tanzania YES NO NO NO research Bulletin

Journal Africain de Togo YES NO NO NO Chirurgie Digestive

Revue des Sciences Togo Médicales et YES NO NO NO Biologiques du Togo

Tunisia Essaydali de Tunisie YES NO NO NO

Revue Maghrébine de Tunisia YES NO NO YES Pédiatrie

Uganda African Health Sciences YES NO NO NO

Makerere Medical Uganda YES NO NO NO Journal

East and Central Uganda African Journal of YES NO NO NO Surgery

Central African Journal Zimbabwe YES YES YES YES of Medicine

27 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Annex 3.3 WHO/TDR survey of African medical journals editors (List of African medical journals surveyed)

ALGERIA Journal Title:Algérie Santé ISSN 1112-3133 Published since: 2000 Frequency: Bi-monthly ; Circulation: 5000 Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Mrs Amal Belkessam Belaloufi Address: 50 Avenue du Cdt A. Mira Bologhine,Alger,Wilaya d’Alger,Algeria Tel.: 021 97 76 40,Fax: 021 97 76 40; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title:Journal Algérien de Médecine ; ISSN 1111-1046 Published since: 1991 Frequency: Bi-monthly ; Circulation: Language Articles: French or English; Language Abstracts: French, English,Arabic Editor: Pr Cherifa Benlatreche Address: Faculté de Médecine, Chalet des Pins,URMEDCO B.P 125,Constantine, 25000,Algeria Tel.: (213 ) 31 62 12 17, Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: Les Cahiers de la Santé Published since: 1997 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Dr Zoubida Bekhouch Address:Villa n°17,Rue n° 4, Paradou-Hydra,Alger 16035,Algeria Tel.: 06 15 10 335;021 69 43 89, Fax: 021 63 44 17 / 21; E-Mail: [email protected]

28 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

BENIN Journal Title:Journal de la Société de Biologie Clinique; ISSN Published since: 1997 Frequency:Yearly ; 17/04/2003 Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Pr Raphael Barthelemy Darboux Address: Faculté des Sciences de la Santé 01,BP 188, Cotonou, Benin Tel.:(229) 301 236, Fax: (229) 380 938; E-Mail: [email protected]

BURUNDI Journal Title: Revue Médicale de Bujumbura; ISSN Published since: 1987 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: National Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Pr Pierre Claver Karyio Address: Faculté de Médecine de Bujumbura,Bujumbura, 1020, Burundi Tel.:(257) 232 074, Fax: (257) 232 268; E-Mail: [email protected]

CAMEROON Journal Title: Doctor’s News ISSN Published since: 1995 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation:Africa Language Articles: English; French; Language Abstracts: English; French Editor: Dr Anne Brigitte Koung Bellet Address: Maison Blanche, PO Box 14816,Yaounde 237, Cameroon Tel.:(237) 231 9920; 231 6811;, Fax:(237) 231 9920; E-Mail: besafca@cm:refer.org

CONGO (R. D.) Journal Title: Congo Médical ISSN Published since: 1993 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: National Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: French; English Editor: Dr Antoine Amana Mosikwa Address:Avenue du Bas Congo, n° 4A, B.P. 16254, Kinshasa 1,Kinshasa, Congo (D.R.) Tel.:(243) 895 2206, Fax: (243) 122 1383; E-Mail: [email protected]

29 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Journal Title: La Tribune Médicale ISSN Published since: 2000 Frequency: Bimonthly ; Circulation: National Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Mr Jean Ngalamulume Kande Address: Boulevard du 30 Juin, n° 3559, B.P. 16205, Kinshasa 1,Kinshasa, Congo D. R.) Tel.: 98316077; 8930348, Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]

COTE D’IVOIRE Journal Title: Revue Internationale des Sciences Médicales ISSN Published since: 1999 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Amadou Sangare Address: 08 B.P. 404,Abidjan 08,Côte d’Ivoire Tel.: (225) 22 47 11 30,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]

EGYPT Journal Title:Alexandria Journal of Pediatrics ; ISSN Published since: 1986 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: National ; Regional Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Ahmed A. Madhour Address:Alexandria University, 25,Al-Ikbal street,Al-Saray,Alexandria, 21411, Egypt Tel.: (203) 58 39 706,Fax: (203) 58 39 706; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title:Alexandria Medical Journal ; ISSN Published since: 1952 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Tossoun El Sayed Aboul Azm Address:Alexandria Medical Journal, 4 Giosue, Carducci St,Alexandria, Egypt Tel.: (202) 482 9001,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]

30 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Journal Title: Bulletin of the Alexandria Faculty of Medicine ; ISSN 1110 0834 Published since: 1965 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Ahmed Abdel Wahab Rayan Address:Alexandria Faculty of Medicine,Alexandria,Egypt Tel.:(203) 486 506, Fax: (203) 487 3076;

Journal Title: Bulletin of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University ; ISSN Published since: 1967 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Mohamed Salah Ahmed Address: Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr Aim Str, Cairo, Egypt Tel.:(202) 362 8426, Fax: (202) 362 8426;

Journal Title: Egyptian Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences ; ISSN 1110-5593 Published since: 1991 Frequency:Twice a year ;Circulation:1000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English;Arabic Editor: Pr Ossama S.E. Rasslan Address: 32 Mohamed Talaat Salem Street, Nassr , City, Cairo, 011371, Egypt Tel.:(202) 484 2562, Fax: (202) 684 6899; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.inasp.info/ajol/journals/emj/index.html

Journal Title: Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Science ISSN 1110-0222 Published since: 1963 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: International Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English;Arabic Editor: Pr Mahmoud Fathi Nawito Address: Dpt Animal Reproduction,National Research, Centre,Tahrir st,Dokki Cairo, 12622 Dokki, Egypt Tel.:(202) 337 1362, Fax: (202) 337 931; E-Mail: [email protected]

31 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Journal Title:Journal of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases ; ISSN Published since: 1990 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: 200/300 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Samir Mohamed Babil Address: Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Cairo, 11111, Egypt Tel.: (202) 391 5115,Fax: (202) 392 9842; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title:Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology ; ISSN 1110-0583 Published since: 1969 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Tosson Aly Morsy Address: Faculty of Medicine,Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt Tel.: (202) 260 8713,Fax: (202) 403 6497; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: New Egyptian Journal of Medicine ISSN 1110-1946 Published since: 1987 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation: Language Articles: English;Arabic; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Mr Mohamed M.El Gadawy Address: 27 Dokki Str,Appt 5,Giz2, Cairo, Egypt Tel.: (202) 338 3387,Fax: ;

ETHIOPIA Journal Title: Ethiopian Journal of Health Development ; ISSN 1021-6790 Published since: 1984 Frequency: Quarterly ;Circulation: 1500 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Yemane Berhane Address: Ethiopian Journal of Heath Development, P.O. Box 32812, Addis Ababa,Addis Ababa Region,Ethiopia Tel.: (251) 1 513 628,Fax: (251) 1 517 701 / 514 870; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.cih.uib.no/journals/EJHD/

32 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Journal Title: Ethiopian Medical Journal ; ISSN 0014-1755 Published since: 1962 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: 1000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Sileshi Lulseged Desta Address: Ethiopian Medical Journal, P.O. Box 3472,Addis Ababa, ,Addis Ababa Region, Ethiopia Tel.:(251) 1 533 742 ; 9 228 496, Fax:(251) 1 533 742; E-Mail: [email protected]

GHANA Journal Title: Ghana Medical Journal ISSN 0855-0328 Published since: 1990 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: 1500 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr David Ofori-Adjei Address: Ghana Medical Association House,P.O. Box 1596,Accra, , Greater Accra Region,Ghana Tel.:(233) 21 501 180; 670 510,Fax: (233) 21 502 182;670 511; E-Mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Web Site: http://www.ghanamedassn.org/Publications/Publication.htm

Journal Title: Health Courier (The) ; ISSN Published since: 1990 Frequency: Six times a year ; Circulation: 2500 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Mr Oscar Cofie Bruce Address:P.O Box 5265,Accra North,Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana Tel.:(223) 21 231 621, Fax: (233) 21 667 500; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site:

Journal Title:West African Journal of Medicine ISSN 0189-160X Published since: 1979 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: 2000 Language Articles: English; French (occasionally); Language Abstracts: English; French Editor: Pr Emmanuel Quaye Archampong Address: Dpt Surgery, University of Ghana Medical School, P.O. Box 4236,Accra,Ghana Tel.:(233) 768 009, Fax: ;

33 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

GUINEE Journal Title: Guinée Médicale ; ISSN Published since: 1994 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: French; English Editor: Pr Yolande Marie Charlotte Hyjazi Address: Faculté de Médecine, Pharmacie et Odonto-Stomatologie, B.P 1017, Conakry, Guinea Tel.: (224) 11 26 26 08;22 95 12, Fax: (224) 45 15 74 ;45 59 77; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site:

KENYA Journal Title:African Journal of Health Sciences ISSN 1022-9272 Published since: 1994 Frequency: Quarterly Circulation: Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr. Davy Koech Address:African Forum for Health Sciences,PO Box 54840,Nairobi Kenya Tel.: 254-2-722541, Fax:254-2-720030 E-Mail:[email protected] Web Site:

Journal Title: East African Medical Journal ISSN 0012-835x Published since: 1923 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation: 4500 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Ms Rosemary Wambui Kinuya Address:P.O. Box 41632, Nairobi, 001 00, Kenya Tel.: (254) 2 271 2010,Fax: (254) 2 272 4617; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.bioline.org.br/ea/

Journal Title: Pharmaceutical Journal of Kenya ; ISSN Published since: 1990 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation: National Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Ms Atiendo Mary M. Ojoo Address:P.O. Box 13576,Westlands,Nairobi, 00800, Kenya Tel.: (254) 2 376 3474,Fax: (254) 2 376 3281; E-Mail: [email protected]

34 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

MADAGASCAR Journal Title: Gazety Medikaly ; ISSN Published since: 1965 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation: National Language Articles: Malagasy;French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Dr Evelyne Ravahiarivony Address: II-L-2 Andravoahangy,Antananarivo, 101, Madagascar Tel.:22 207 62, Fax: ;

MALAWI Journal Title: Malawi Medical Journal ; ISSN Published since: 1979-1984; 1999- Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: 250/300 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Malcom E.Molyneux Address: Malawi - Liverpool - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, College of Malawi, University of Malawi, P.O. Box 30096,Blantyre, 3, Malawi Tel.:(265) 676 444;,Fax: (265) 675 774; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.inasp.info/ajol/journals/mmj/index.html

MALI Journal Title: Mali Médical ; ISSN Published since: 1975 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Dr Siaka Sidibe Address: Service de Radiologie et de Médecine Nucléaire, Hôpital du Point G,Bamako, 333, Mali Tel.:(223) 22 50 02, Fax: (223) 22 97 90; E-Mail: [email protected]

MOROCCO Journal Title: Maroc Médical ; ISSN 0253-4053 Published since: 1920 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: French; English;Arabic Editor: Dr A.Tounsi Address: Hôpital Ibn Sina CHU, 1005 Rabat R.P. Rabat,Morocco Tel.:(212) 37 67 59 36, Fax: (212) 37 67 67 00 43; E-Mail: [email protected]

35 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

MOZAMBIQUE Journal Title: Revista Medica de Mozambique ; ISSN Published since: 1973 Frequency:Yearly ; Circulation: National Language Articles:Portuguese; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Rassul Mussa Nala Address:Av. Eduardo Mondlane/Salvador Allende, Maputo, Maputo, Mozambique Tel.: (258) 1 431 103,Fax: (258) 1 431 103; E-Mail: [email protected]

NIGERIA Journal Title:African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences ; ISSN Published since: 1970 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English; French Editor: Pr Babatunde Osotimehin Address: College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Tel.: (234) 2 2412148,Fax: (234) 2 2410505; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.afrijmed.com

Journal Title:African Journal of Reproductive Health ISSN 1118-4841 Published since: 1997 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: International Language Articles: English; French; Language Abstracts: English; French Editor: Mr James Olapido Falaiye Address: 4,Alofoje Street,off Uwasota Road, P.O. Box 10231,Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria Tel.: (234) 52 600 151 / 602 334,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.inasp.info/ajol/journals/ajrh/index.html

Journal Title: BMJ West Africa Edition ; ISSN 1119-2984 Published since: 1996 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: 2000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Mr Joseph N. E.Ana Address: Suite A 204, Ikeja Shopping Plaza, 81, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja - Lagos,Lagos, Nigeria Tel.: (44) 1582 652 884 (UK),Fax:(44) 1582 652 884; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.hrilimited.com

36 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Journal Title: Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice ISSN 1119-3077 Published since: 1997 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: 3000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Edward Ejiro Emuveyan Address: Dept.Obstetrics & Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital,Lagos, PMB 12003,Lagos State, Nigeria Tel.:(234) 1 480 4891; 0802 2234344,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected] ;[email protected] Web Site: http://www.inasp.info/ajol/journals/njcp/index.html

Journal Title: Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics ; ISSN 0302-4660 Published since: 1974 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: International Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Wilson Ilemobade Aderele Address: Dept.Paediatrics, University College Hospital, Ibadan,200004, Oyo State, Nigeria E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.inasp.info/ajol/journals/njp/index.html

Journal Title: Nigerian Medical Journal ; ISSN 1119-2593 Published since: 1997 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: 1000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Efe A. Ohwovoriole Address: Dept.Medicine, College of Medicine, Lagos,PMB 12003,Lagos State, Nigeria Tel.:090 417 538; (234) 1 5840 079,Fax: (234) 15840 079; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site:

Journal Title:West African Journal of Medicine ; ISSN 0189-160x Published since: 1952 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: International Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English; French Editor: Pr Oluwole Gbolagunte Ajao Address: Dept Surgery, College of Ibadan,University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Tel.:(234) 2 231 5161, Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]

37 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

SENEGAL Journal Title: Le Caducée ; ISSN 0850-3222 Published since: 1994 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: National Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Dr Dramane Konate Address: 123 Rue Carnot,B.P. 606, Dakar, Senegal Tel.: (221) 822 57 15,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: Médecine Verte ; ISSN 0851-2019 Published since: 1999 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: National Language Articles: French; English; Language Abstracts: French; English Editor: Mr Baboucar Mbaye Balde Address: Cité des Chercheurs, Immeuble Eva n° 93, Bel Air, B.P. 6134 Dakar Etoile, Dakar, Senegal Tel.: (221) 832 28 50,Fax: (221) 832 57 49; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: Psychopathologie Africaine ; ISSN 0033-314X Published since: 1965 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: International Language Articles: French; English; Language Abstracts: French; English Editor: Pr Momar Gueye Address: Clinique Psychiatrique Moussa Diop, CHU de Fann, B.P. 5097, Dakar-Fann,Dakar, Senegal Tel.: (221) 824 98 88;869 18 38, Fax:(221) 824 98 88; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: Santé Magazine ISSN 0850 2455 Published since: 1995 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation: 15000 Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: Editor: Mr Assane Toure Address: Rue 55 x 66 Gueule Tapée, B. P. 12 239,Dakar Colobane,, Dakar, Senegal Tel.: (221) 648 99 49,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

38 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

SEYCHELLES Journal Title: Seychelles Medical and Dental Journal ; ISSN Published since: 1993 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: 300 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Pascal Bovet Address: Ministry of Health,PO Box 287,Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles Tel.:(248) 388 000; 572 644,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.seychelles.net/smdj

SIERRA LEONE Journal Title: Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Journal ISSN Published since: 1977 Frequency: Once a year ; Circulation: National Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Sahr Moses Gevao Address: College of Medicine, University of Sierra Leone, Private Mail Bag, Freetown,Sierra Leone Tel.:226 743, Fax:224 439;

SOUTH AFRICA Journal Title:Africa Sanguine ; ISSN 1560-8646 Published since: 1998 Frequency: twice a year ; Circulation: about 200 (increasing as membership of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion increases) Language Articles: English or French; Language Abstracts: English or French Editor: Ms Beryl Armstrong Address: South African National Blood Service, Private Bag X9044, Pinetown 3600,South Africa Tel.:(+27) (31) 719-6637, Fax: (+27) (31) 719-6867; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.afsbt.org.za

39 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Journal Title: Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa ; ISSN 1015-9657 Published since: 1988 Frequency: Five times a year ; Circulation: 1600 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Andries J.Brink Address: PO Box 1013 Durbanville 7551; 5, Biccard Street, Durbanville 7550, Cape Metropole, 7551,Western Province, South Africa Tel.: +27 21 976 8129,Fax:+27 21 976 8984; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.cvjsa.co.za

Journal Title: CME- Continuing Medical Education ISSN 0256-2170 Published since: 1983 Frequency: eleven times a year ; Circulation: 12 000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Mr Fred N. Sanders Address: Private Bag X1,Pinelands, Cape Town, 7430,Western Cape, South Africa Tel.: +27 21 530 6540,Fax:+27 21 531 4126; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: Modern Medicine of South Africa ISSN 0259-9333 Published since: 1977 Frequency: Eleven times a year ; Circulation: 7500 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Rosemary S. Keen Address: 155 Second Avenue,Kenilworth, 7740, Cape, South Africa Tel.: +27 21 671 1140,Fax:+27 21 671 1389; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: Occupational Health Southern Africa ; ISSN 1024-6274 Published since: 1996 Frequency: Six times a year ; Circulation: 1500 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Fiona Robinson Address:Postnet Suite 130,Private Bag X 65, Midrand, 1685, Gauteng,South Africa Tel.: + 27 82 920 3342,Fax: +27 11 315 1926; E-Mail: [email protected]

40 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Journal Title: South Africa Family Practice, incorporating Geneeskunde ; ISSN Published since: 1958 Frequency:Ten times per year ; Circulation: 7500 Language Articles: English;Afrikaans; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Prof. Pierre J.T. de Villiers Address: PO box 19063,Tygerberg, Cape Town,7505,Western Cape, South Africa Tel.:+27 21 938 9449,Fax: +27 21 938 9153; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.medpharm.co.za

Journal Title: South African Dental Journal ; ISSN 1029-4864 Published since: 1945 Frequency: Eleven times a year ; Circulation: 3700-4000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Sudeshni Naidoo Address: Dept of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences,Private Bag X1, Tygerberg, 7505,Western Cape, South Africa Tel.:+27 21 937 3148/3034, Fax:+27 21 937 3034; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: South African Journal of Physiotherapy ; ISSN 0379-6175 Published since: 1962 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: 4000-5000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Cecelia J.Eales Address: Faculty of Health Sciences,Wits Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, Gauteng,South Africa Tel.:+27 11 717 2063/4, Fax:+27 11 643 4318; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: South African Psychiatry Review ISSN 1560-0181 Published since: 1997 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: 2000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Christopher Paul Szabo Address: Division of Psychiatry, Dpt of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa Tel.:+27 11 5353004 Fax: +27 11 8843006; E-Mail: [email protected]

41 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Journal Title: South African Medical Journal ; ISSN 0256-9574 Published since: 1884 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation: 18000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Dan J.Ncayiyana Address: Durban Institute of Technology, PO Box 1334,Durban,4000,KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Tel.: +27 31 308 5104,Fax:+27 31 308 5103; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.samedical.org

TANZANIA Journal Title:Tanzania Health research Bulletin ISSN 0856-6496 Published since: 1996 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: National Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr Joyce Kemilembe Ikingura Address: National Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 9653,Dar es Salam,Tanzania Tel.: (225) 22 213 0770,Fax: (255) 22 213 0660; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.inasp.info/ajol/journals/thrb/index.html

Journal Title:Tanzania Medical Journal ; ISSN 0856-0721 Published since: 1980 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: National; East Africa Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Eligius Francis Lyamuya Address: Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 65001,Dar es Salam,Tanzania Tel.: (255) 22 215 0302 ext 226;,Fax: (255) 22 215 350; E-Mail: [email protected]

TOGO Journal Title:Journal Africain de Chirurgie Digestive ; ISSN Published since: 2000 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation:Africa; Europe Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: French; English Editor: Pr Hubert Affandalo Tekou Address: CHU Tokoin, B.P. 57, Lomé, B.P. 8877, Préfecture du Golf,Togo Tel.: (228) 226 90 40;222 48 94, Fax:(228) 222 26 37; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site:

42 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Journal Title: Revue des Sciences Médicales et Biologiques du Togo ISSN Published since: 1976-1996; 2002 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: French; English Editor: Pr Komlavi Ignéza James Address: Faculté de Médecine, B.P. 1515, Lomé,Togo Tel.:(228) 225 13 66, Fax: (228) 221 85 95; E-Mail: [email protected]

TUNISIA Journal Title: Essaydali de Tunisie ; ISSN 0330-9223 Published since: 1981 Frequency: Quarterly ; Circulation: Language Articles: French;Arabic; Language Abstracts: French;Arabic; English Editor: Dr Mohamed Moncef Zmerli Address: Maison du Pharmacien,56 Rue Ibn Charaf, Tunis, 1002,Tunisia Tel.:(216) 71 795 722, Fax: (216) 71 790 847; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.maghrebmed.com.tn/avicenne/pharmacie/presse_scientifique/essaydali.asp

Journal Title: Revue Maghrébine de Pédiatrie ; ISSN 0330-7611 Published since: 1990 Frequency: Six times a year ; Circulation: Language Articles: French; Language Abstracts: French; English;Arabic Editor: Dr Saayda Ben Becher Address: Hôpital des Enfants,Tunis, 1007,Tunisia Tel.:(216) 71 577 981, Fax: (216) 71 563 180; E-Mail: [email protected]

UGANDA Journal Title:African Health Sciences ISSN1680-6905 Published since: 2001 Frequency:Three times a year ; Circulation: 3000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr James Kashugyera Tumwine Address: Faculty of Medicine, Makarere University, PO Box 7072,Kampala, Uganda Tel.:(256) 41 531 875, Fax: (256) 41 534 133; E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: http://www.inasp.info/ajol/journals/ahs/index.html

43 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Journal Title: East and Central African Journal of Surgery ISSN 1024-297X Published since: 1995 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: 500 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Ignatius Kakande Address: Dept.Surgery, Makerere University, PO Box 7072,Kampala, Uganda Tel.: (256) 77 501 745,Fax: (256) 41 532 591; E-Mail: [email protected]

Journal Title: Makerere Medical Journal ISSN 0025-1119 Published since: 1957 Frequency:Twice a year ; Circulation: 1000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Dr B.Stephen Asiimwe Address: Makerere Medical Students Association, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda Tel.: (256) 71 686 683,Fax: ; E-Mail: [email protected]

ZIMBABWE Journal Title: Central African Journal of Medicine ; ISSN 0008-9176 Published since: 1954 Frequency: Monthly ; Circulation: 1000 Language Articles: English; Language Abstracts: English Editor: Pr Godfrey Ignatius Muguti Address: Central African Journal of Medicine, P O Box 195 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe Tel.: (263-4)791630-9 ext2105/2297,Fax: (263-4)791995/724912; E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

44 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

Why do African health researchers try Annex 4.1 to publish in widely distributed Northern journals?

by Susanne Groener

Publication-related reasons • International readership • High print run •Peer-reviewed: high-quality, reliable information

Personal reasons • Prestige of publishing in an international journal • High impact factor • May advance career and reputation

Advantages of publishing in TMIH specifically • 56% of the research papers published in TMIH either originate in Africa,or are highly relevant to African health research.33% of these have African first authors,41% of these have one or more African co-authors.18% of all research papers published in TMIH have African first authors;23% have African co-authors. • If at all possible, one of the 2-3 referees assigned to a paper will be from the region where the data originate. • TMIH is accessible free of charge to a number of African research institutions. • Online journal with free abstracts. • No page charges to authors. • Authors receive PDF files of their papers for use in teaching. • Publication in English,French and Spanish. •Poor English is not an obstacle;TMIH provides all the copy editing that may be required

What are the main opportunities and constraints of this practice for African researchers and African health research?

Opportunities • Even if a paper is not accepted,the author receives advice from expert reviewers. • High visibility • Establish links to other researchers in the field through various channels such as electronic cross-referencing,personal contacts • Get information across to other African researchers:Not every country or region has its own journal matching the researcher’s specialty, and those that exist may not be widely or reliably distributed.

45 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Constraints • Big Northern journals have agendas of their own restricting the topics they want to publish on at any one time; information which may be vital to a particular African region can be considered too parochial to be of interest to an international readership. • In order to keep up the impact factor they will try to attract well-known experts writing on “safe” topics who may not originate from the South. • They can afford to be choosy and tend to have very high rejection rates. • This,together with economic constraints,means that there is little incentive to provide editorial assistance. Referees are relied on to suggest changes to the contents, but often there is no-one to help with improving style and presentation.Papers may be rejected because they would require rewriting. • Big journals may have very long acceptance-to-publication times. • They may require technical means not available to researchers in the field, such as internet access. • They may impose charges for printed pages. • In almost any case, the process of submitting papers to Northern journals costs a fair amount of money.

Do research results reach the African health research community?

This is not easy to measure from the editor’s end, and raises a multitude of questions.The geographical distribution of a journal is not an accurate indicator.A readers’ poll in 2000 revealed that on average each copy of TMIH has 9 readers – but one would hope that number is much higher for library copies. Online access can be, and is being tracked,and we are awaiting the first results. Another method is looking at the references in both submitted and published papers.How many are from, say, the Big 10, how many from local journals? How up-to-date are the references? This shows that a considerable proportion of African researchers have limited access to literature, both in terms of the number of journals and latest issues (although this seems to be improving with growing internet access). But even this method only reflects those African health workers who write papers.What about those who do not, but nevertheless need access to current medical knowledge? We need to know what is the most appropriate method of distribution for whom, and this conference can help to determine that! Two related questions are: Do research results reach African health workers more efficiently through Northern journals with their well-established infrastructure than they would through regional periodicals? Two, which results reach African researchers? To what degree does the (self- )censorship imposed by international readerships influence what is published?

46 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

REVUE MEDECINE TROPICALE Annex 4.2

Institut de Médecine Tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées BP 46 – Le Pharo 13998, Marseille Armées [email protected]

Description

Revue Médecine Tropicale is primarily a French-language journal but also accepts articles in English. Articles are intended for a wide range of readers with medical and scientific interest in all aspects of medical practice in tropical regions.Each issue contains approximately 104 pages with 25 articles and is divided into two sections,i.e. magazine and journal. The magazine section provides concise, practical,up-to-date information and news.This section is produced and written mainly by the Journal’s editorial staff. However it may also contain articles requested from noted specialists and articles selected by the reviewing staff on the basis of quality, exhaustiveness, and timeliness. The articles in the Journal section are classified in several categories. Most editorials and review articles are commissioned. Original articles, brief communications, “Sur place (On location)” reports,and letters to the editor correspond to unsolicited manuscripts that have been submitted to the Revue and accepted for publication. Revue Médecine Tropicale has been published by the Tropical Medicine Institute of the Army Health Corps without interruption since 1940.It descends and continues from a long line of past publications including the Archives de Médecine Navale (1864 to 1889),Archives de Médecine Navale et Coloniale (1890 to 1896),Annales d’Hygiène et de Médecine Coloniales (1898 to 1914), and les Annales de Médecine et de Pharmacie Coloniales. Revue Médecine Tropicale is now referenced on Medline, Pascal,and Index Medicus.It has a current circulation of about 5000 copies including 1800 mailed to subscribers (institutional and individual) and 3200 that are distributed free of charge by the “Impact Malaria” network to physicians prac- ticing in French-speaking tropical areas. A total of 6 issues are published each year including: • four standard issues; • one issue devoted to the Actualités du Pharo, a French-language meeting on tropical medicine held yearly during the first week of September. This issue presents conference proceedings and abstracts of oral or poster presentations; • a fully commissioned special issue on a chosen topic of interest. Past “special issue” topics include “Tropical dermatology”,“Tropical ophthalmology”,“Transcultural psychiatry”,“Travel medicine”,“Polynuclear eosinophilia”,“Qinghaosou and its derivatives”,and “Tropical virology”.The latest issue on “Humanitarian action in tropical areas” is forthcoming.

47 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Contributing authors have sound experience and know-how in tropical zones.They include French and foreign military physicians,scientists from the Institut de la Recherche pour le Développement (formerly called Orstom) or Pasteur Institute, specialists in parasitic and infectious diseases, French-speaking academics, experts from the World Health Organization, representatives from NGOs, and a growing number of African physicians.This authorship reflects the diversity of players working in the field today.

Review process

Articles received by the Editorial Staff are given to one member of the Editorial Board. He then sends a “blinded” manuscript to two reviewers chosen from the civilian and military scientific community based on their expertise in the topic of the article. Letters to the editor are not submitted to this reviewing process but must be approved for publication by two members of the Editorial Staff.

Solicited articles

The Editorial Staff commissions several types of articles.The objective is to maintain a high level of scientific quality by using the overseas military network and the network of competence of the Pharo, Scientific Council,and Honorary Council.Members of these organizations may intervene by recommending subjects of current interest suitable for publication or by lending their support to a solicitation request to close collaborators or colleagues within the scientific community. The three main priorities in the Revue’s commissioning policy are to maintain the scientific level as opposed to providing post-graduate training, to provide information on current as opposed to trendy topics,and to privilege didactic clarity as opposed to academic sketchiness. Editorials The guiding principle is to allow solicited authors full liberty of expression. For this reason,editorial comment is one of the most lively categories in the Journal section. In many cases editorials describe the author’s opinion on current issues.The Editorial Staff limits its intervention to publication of correspondence received in response to these opinions. Review articles As stated above, the goal of the Editorial Staff in commissioning review articles from leading scientists is a to maintain a high-level of quality.This section is designed for use as an educational tool for Magazine section Since the magazine section of the Revue is produced by the Editorial Staff, most of its content is written by the Editorial Staff. However some rubrics, e.g.“Avancées (Breakthroughs)” and often “Focus”,are requested from leading experts.The “Varia” rubric is completely open to outside con- tributors.Submitted articles in this rubric are classified by the Editorial Staff according to content in various categories:“Tribune (Forum)”,“Histoire (History),“Libre opinion (Free opinion)”,etc.

Article content

Traditional tropical medicine was limited to clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and epidemiological aspects of communicable diseases due to parasitic, bacterial,or viral agents.However the field has expanded greatly in recent years.Increasing attention is being given to non-communicable diseases as well as issues such nutrition and demography. Of the total number of articles submitted for publication in Revue Médecine Tropicale, the proportion dealing with communicable disease is 50.5%.This proportion corresponds to 58.7% of the articles submitted and published.

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Future of the Journal In the immediate future, Revue Médecine Tropicale plans to evolve technologically by publishing a CD ROM edition and by distributing content on the internet (free medical journals).These new media will not supplant the print edition. This voluntary policy respects the spirit of the editorial policy presented 50 years ago. It is aimed at maintaining the French-language network of scientific relations and promoting field research, applied clinical research, and effective epidemiological surveillance. By providing French-speaking tropical medicine specialists a scientific forum and support, Revue Médecine Tropicale has recovered its status as an integral part of the mission of the Tropical Medicine Institute of the Army Health Corps and its place in the ever shorter list of French-language journals devoted to tropical medicine.

Useful information

Contact information IMTSSA Revue Médecine Tropicale BP 46 Le Pharo, 13998 Marseille Armées Tel : 04 91 15 01 47 Fax : 04 91 15 01 29 E-mail : [email protected]

Subscription information The yearly subscription rate for 2002 is 40 Euros payable to the Subscriptions Department at the above address. Payment can be made: • by check to the order of Régisseur d’avance et de recettes de l’IMTSSA • bank transfer to TP Marseille, Bank code n° 10071,Teller n° 13000,Account n° 00001005337, RIB 38.

Information for authors

Revue Médecine Tropicale publishes editorials,original articles,brief communications, review articles, letters to the Editor, and reports describing activity in tropical areas or missions overseas.English- speaking authors are welcome to submit articles in English.

General conditions of publications Authors are solely accountable for their views.Original articles must not have been published pre- viously and must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere. Concisely-written manuscripts must be typed double-spaced using a font size no smaller than 12-points with a maximum of 25 lines per page.They should be sent along with any photos,figures, and tables in triplicate to the Editorial Staff. Electronic submission of the final corrected version is encouraged in the form of a Microsoft Word document on a high-density double-sided 3.5” floppy diskette or by e-mail to http://[email protected] must indicate the category for which they are submitting.All articles will be blindly reviewed by two reviewers.Minor changes (spelling,style, layout) may be made to the final accepted manuscript by Editorial Staff’s copy editors.Five offprints will be sent free of charge to first author of each article.

Manuscript preparation Regardless of the category for which the manuscript is submitted, the first page must include the title (less than 12 words),the first name initials and last names of the authors,the name and com-

49 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

plete address of the institution in which the work was performed,the titles and institutional affiliations of each author, and the complete address,telephone number, and fax number of the corre- sponding author. Most editorials are solicited by the Editorial Staff.Manuscripts should not exceed 4 pages (excluding not more than 10 references). Original articles should not exceed 12 pages (not counting references). They should have an Introduction clearly stating the purpose of the work followed by Material and Methods, Results and Discussion. Brief communications describing clinical work, epidemiological data,therapeutic findings,or surgi- cal techniques should not exceed 6 pages (excluding not more than 15 references). General reviews are commissioned by the Editorial Staff.Manuscripts should not exceed 16 pages. References may be exhaustive. Letters to the Editor and other commentary are welcome. This correspondence should not exceed 40 lines with no more than 5 references. The “Sur place (On location)” category is intended for publication of articles reporting personal experience, witnessed events,or official missions in tropical areas.The originality of the report will be taken into account. Manuscripts should be limited to 12 pages including references (not required). In all categories abbreviations should be avoided whenever possible. When used, abbreviations should be defined immediately after the first appearance of the expression or word which they will be replace in the rest of the text.

Abstract Original articles, brief communications, review articles, and articles submitted for the “Sur place (On location)” category should be accompanied by an abstract in French followed by 3 to 4 key words.The abstract should be submitted in triplicate on a separate page from the rest of the manuscript. It should contain no more than 250 words with no abbreviations or references. For original articles, the abstract should present the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions. An abstract in English is also required. If the author does not submit an English abstract,he will have to accept the one supplied by the Editorial Staff.

References References should be arranged numerically in the order in which they are cited in the text. Only articles that have already been published or which are in press should be cited. Journal titles should be abbreviated in accordance with the style of Index Medicus.

Sample References

Journal • COMOE K. C.,SESS D.,GUELAIN J.- Etude de la tension artérielle en milieu urbain Ivoirien. Med.Trop. 1993 ; 53 :173-179.

Book Chapter • DUPONT A., BOUCHEZ P., LE BRAS M. - Rein et drépanocytose. In « BEGUE P. - La maladie drépanocytaire ».Sandoz ed., Rueil Malmaison,1984, pp 203-207.

Book • CHATELAIN C. - La bilharziose uro-génitale. Masson ed.,Paris, 1978, 100 p.

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Tables, Figures and Illustrations Tables should be kept to the minimum required for clarification of the text.Original photographs and slides should be submitted.A label should be affixed to the reverse side of each illustration, indicating figure number, legend, and top of the figure. Data presented graphically should be fur- nished separately so that diagrams and graphs can be reproduced in accordance with the standards of the Journal.Legends should be descriptive enough to make the illustration self-explanatory without reference to the text. Submission of any material (text,images,illustrations) implies transfer of all publication and reproduction rights exclusively to the Revue, unless a prior agreement has been reached between the author and editor.

51 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

REVUE MEDECINE TROPICALE

Institut de Médecine Tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées BP 46 – Le Pharo 13998, Marseille Armées [email protected]

Composition de la revue

Médecine Tropicale est une revue francophone mais qui accepte des articles en anglais, destinée à des lecteurs d’horizons médical et scientifique variés,concernés par tous les aspects de la pathologie observée sous les Tropiques.Chaque numéro comprend en moyenne 25 articles en 104 pages et est divisé en deux parties : Le magazine a pour objectif d’offrir aux lecteurs une information concise, pratique et d’actualité ; cette partie est en grande partie gérée et rédigée par l’équipe rédactionnelle de la Revue mais on y trouve aussi des articles sollicités auprès de personnalités scientifiques qui font référence sur le thème abordé et des articles sélectionnés par le Comité de lecture pour leur qualité,leur exhaus- tivité, leur actualité. La deuxième partie de la Revue est composée d’articles classés en différentes rubriques: éditori- aux et revues générales font l’objet d’une sollicitation dans la majorité des cas ;articles originaux, communications,«sur place»,lettres à l’éditeur correspondent à des articles reçus par la Revue et acceptés pour publication. Médecine Tropicale est éditée par l’Institut de Médecine Tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées (IMTSSA) sans interruption depuis 1940. Elle avait alors pris le relais de revues plus anciennes, Archives de Médecine Navale (1864 à 1889),Archives de Médecine Navale et Coloniale (1890 à 1896),Annales d’Hygiène et de Médecine Coloniales (1898 à 1914),et les Annales de Médecine et de Pharmacie Coloniales. Médecine Tropicale est maintenant référencée sur Medline, Pascal et Index Medicus, et chaque numéro est tiré à 5000 exemplaires. 1800 sont envoyés aux abonnés (institutions, abonnés indi- viduels) et 3200 sont directement et gratuitement distribué à des médecins exerçant en zone tropicale francophone par le réseau « impact malaria »; Six numéros sont édités par an : • quatre numéros standards ; • un numéro consacré aux Actualités du Pharo, congrès francophone annuel de médecine tropicale qui se tient à l’IMTSSA chaque année la première semaine de septembre comportant les textes des conférences et le résumé des communications orales ou affichées ;

52 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1

• un numéro spécial thématique. Le contenu de ce numéro est entièrement sollicité.Les thèmes récemment abordés ont été “Peau et tropiques”,“Œil et tropiques”, Psychiatrie transculturelle”, “Médecine des voyages”, Le polynucléaire éosinophile”, “Qinghaosou and its derivatives”, “La virologie tropicale à l’aube du troisième millénaire”,“Trypanosomiase humaine africaine” et « Les Actions humanitaires en zone tropicale » est en cours d’achèvement. Les auteurs de la revue sont des acteurs de la Santé ayant une expérience concrète et un savoir- faire en zone tropicale. Ce sont des médecins militaires français et étrangers, des scientifiques de l’institut de la Recherche pour le Développement (ex-Orstom) ou de l’Institut Pasteur, des para- sitologues et des infectiologues universitaires francophones, des spécialistes de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, des représentants d’ONG et de plus en plus de médecins africains, patch- work à l’image de celui des « acteurs de terrain » d’aujourd’hui.

La soumission des articles

La règle veut que chaque article reçu par la Rédaction soit confié à l’un des membres du Comité de rédaction. Celui-ci adresse un manuscrit anonymé à deux lecteurs choisis en raison de leur compétence dans le domaine de l’article, dans le monde scientifique civil et militaire. Les lettres à l’éditeur ne sont pas soumises à l’avis de deux lecteurs mais seulement à l’approbation de deux membres de la Rédaction.

Les articles sollicités

Plusieurs catégories d’articles font l’objet de sollicitation par la Rédaction,l’objectif étant de maintenir un haut niveau de qualité scientifique par l’utilisation du réseau militaire outre-mer, du réseau de compétences du Pharo, du Conseil Scientifique et du Conseil Honoraire. Les membres de ces conseils donnent, en particuliers des conseils dans le choix des sujets d’actualité devant faire l’objet d’une mise au point ou pour appuyer une demande de sollicitation auprès de collaborateurs directs ou auprès de collègues avec lesquels ils entretiennent des contacts scientifiques. Trois priorités prévalent au choix de ces sollicitations :le haut niveau scientifique et non le simple enseignement post-universitaire, l’actualité pratique et non la simple mode, la clarté didactique et non la schématisation scolaire. Les éditoriaux. L’esprit est ici de solliciter un auteur qui est libre du contenu de son texte. C’est d’ailleurs la raison pour laquelle cette rubrique possède la tonalité la plus critique de la Revue. Il s’agit souvent de billets d’humeur sur des points d’actualité et la Rédaction limite son intervention à la publication des correspondances reçues en réaction à ces billets. Les revues générales. Comme indiqué ci-dessus, la revue générale, sollicitées auprès de personnalités scientifiques qui font références, est un souci constant de la Rédaction qui tient à maintenir un niveau de qualité élevé à cette rubrique, conçue comme un outil de travail à visée universitaire. Le magazine. Cette partie de la Revue est l’émanation de la Rédaction et est de ce fait en grande partie rédigée par elle. Néanmoins, pour certaines rubriques (“ avancées” et le plus souvent “focus”) il est fait appel à des auteurs de référence. Une rubrique «varia» est entièrement ouverte aux intervenants extérieurs. On y trouve des articles soumis classés en «Tribune», «Histoire», «Libre opinion» etc selon leur teneur par la rédaction

Le contenu des articles

Classiquement,la pathologie tropicale est dominée par la pathologie transmissible, parasitaire, bac- térienne ou virale, dans ses aspects cliniques, diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et épidémiologiques.

53 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Mais depuis quelques années, le volet non transmissible connaît un nouvel essor et il n’est plus possible aujourd’hui d’aborder la pathologie tropicale en méconnaissant les problèmes nutrition- nels, les questions démographiques,etc. Parmi les articles soumis à publication, la part des travaux consacrés aux maladies transmissibles est de 50,5 %,cette part correspondant à 58,7 % si l’on considère les articles soumis et effective- ment publiés.

Evolution de la revue

Dans un proche avenir, l’évolution de Médecine Tropicale sera essentiellement d’ordre technique. La Revue franchira un pas technologique avec l’édition sur CD-Rom et la diffusion sur internet (free medical journals). Ces vecteurs de communication ne se substitueront pas à l’édition imprimée. Cette politique volontariste, qui respecte dans l’esprit la ligne éditoriale présentée il y a cinquante ans, passe par le maintien d’un réseau francophone de relations scientifiques, le développement d’une recherche de terrain, d’une recherche clinique très appliquée, le maintien d’une veille épidémiologique performante. En apportant à tous les tropicalistes francophones une tribune et un soutien scientifique, Médecine Tropicale s’intègre dans ce nouveau cahier des charges de l’Institut de Médecine Tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées et trouve tout naturellement sa place parmi les revues francophones,de moins en moins nombreuses, consacrées à la médecine tropicale.

Renseignements pratiques

Adresse : IMTSSA Revue Médecine Tropicale BP 46 – Le Pharo, 13998 Marseille Armées Tel : 04 91 15 01 47 Fax : 04 91 15 01 29 E-mail : [email protected]

Abonnements Le montant pour 2002 est de 40 Euros, à régler au Service des Abonnements, adresse ci-dessus. Le règlement peut être effectué : • par chèque bancaire ou postal à l’ordre du Régisseur d’avances et de recettes de l’IMTSSA • par virement à TP Marseille, n° de banque 10071,n° de guichet 13000, n° de compte 00001005337, RIB 38.

Recommandations aux auteurs

La Revue Médecine Tropicale publie des éditoriaux,des articles originaux,des communications, des revues générales, des lettres à la Rédaction, des témoignages d’activité sur le terrain tropical ou des rapports de missions effectuées Outre-mer. Les auteurs anglophones peuvent adresser leurs articles en anglais.

Conditions générales de publication Les articles n’engagent que la responsabilité de leurs auteurs.Les manuscrits des articles originaux ne doivent avoir fait l’objet d’aucune publication antérieure ni être en cours de publication dans une autre revue. Les textes, de bonne qualité, doivent être dactylographiés en double interligne, de police de caractère 12 minimum (pour pouvoir être scannés),25 lignes par page maximum,et être adressés ainsi que les photos, figures et tableaux en triple exemplaires à la Rédaction de la Revue. Il est souhaitable que les textes définitivement corrigés soient adressés sur disquette (double face

54 TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1 haute densité) format 3” 1/2 en utilisant de préférence le traitement de texte Word ou par cour- rier électronique à l’adresse suivante : http://[email protected]. Les auteurs doivent d’emblée préciser sous quelle rubrique ils soumettent leur travail. Tous les articles sont adressés pour avis de façon anonyme à deux lecteurs. Des modifications minimes (orthographe, style, mise en page) sur un texte définitivement accepté pourront être effectuées par un collaborateur de la Rédaction. La Revue attribue gratuitement 5 tirés à part au premier auteur de chaque article.

Présentation des textes La première page du manuscrit doit, quelle que soit la rubrique proposée, comporter : le titre de l’article (moins de 12 mots), les initiales des prénoms et les noms des auteurs,la dénomination et l’adresse complète de l’institution dans laquelle le travail a été effectué,les titres et affiliations hos- pitalo-universitaires de chaque auteur, l’adresse complète avec numéro de téléphone et de Fax où doit être envoyée la correspondance. Les éditoriaux sont généralement sollicités par la Rédaction ;les manuscrits n’excèdent pas 4 pages (références non comprises mais limitées à 10). Les articles originaux ne doivent pas dépasser 12 pages (références non comprises) ; ils nécessi- tent une introduction précisant clairement le but de l’étude, un chapitre matériel et méthodes suivi des résultats, une discussion. Les communications incluant des faits cliniques ou épidémiologiques, des notes de thérapeutique ou de technique chirurgicale ne doivent pas dépasser 6 pages (références non comprises mais lim- itées à 15). Les revues générales peuvent être sollicitées par la Rédaction ; le manuscrit ne doit pas dépasser 16 pages ;les références peuvent être exhaustives. Les lettres et correspondance à la Rédaction sont encouragées ;la longueur du manuscrit est lim- itée à 40 lignes,le nombre de références à 5. La rubrique “Sur place” est destinée à publier des articles relatant en milieu tropical,une expérience per- sonnelle, des témoignages d’activité ou des rapports de missions; l’originalité du travail sera largement prise en compte. Les manuscrits sont limités à 12 pages,références comprises mais non indispensables. Dans tous les cas, les abréviations doivent être évitées autant que possible ; elles doivent être indiquées à leur premier emploi, après l’expression ou le mot qu’elles abrègent.

Le résumé Les articles originaux, les communications, les revues générales et les articles proposés pour la rubrique « Sur Place » doivent s’accompagner d’un résumé en français suivis de 3 à 4 mots clés. Adressé en 3 exemplaires,le résumé doit figurer sur une page à part du reste du manuscrit.D’une longueur maximale de 250 mots,il ne doit comporter ni abréviations,ni références. Pour les articles originaux, il doit préciser les objectifs, la méthodologie, les résultats et les conclusions. Un résumé en anglais est à fournir.A défaut, l’auteur devra accepter celui de la Rédaction.

Les références Les références seront numérotées selon l’ordre de leur appel dans le texte. Elles doivent indiquer les noms de tous les auteurs. Seuls les articles déjà publiés ou qui sont sous presse peuvent être mentionnés. Les abréviations des titres de journaux doivent être celles qui sont trouvées dans l’Index Médicus, par exemple : •Pour un journal :COMOE K. C.,SESS D.,GUELAIN J.- Etude de la tension artérielle en milieu urbain Ivoirien. Med.Trop. 1993 ; 53 : 173-179. •Pour une contribution à un livre : DUPONT A., BOUCHEZ P., LE BRAS M. - Rein et dré- panocytose. In « BEGUE P. - La maladie drépanocytaire ».Sandoz ed., Rueil Malmaison,1984, pp 203-207.

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• Pour un livre :CHATELAIN C. - La bilharziose uro-génitale. Masson ed., Paris,1978, 100 p. L’iconographie et l’infographie Le nombre de tableaux doit être limité au strict nécessaire. Les originaux des photographies et des diapositives doivent nous être adressés, annotés correctement au verso (numéro de figure + légende + orientation). Toute l’infographie doit être accompagnée des données chiffrées à part, permettant la reconstitution des histogrammes et graphiques, selon les normes adoptées par la Revue. Chacun d’entre eux constitue une unité qui doit être compréhensible en soi,sans référence au texte, grâce à une légende suffisante. Ils doivent être appelés dans le texte. La fourniture de documents de toute nature (texte, images,infographie),implique l’autorisation de publication et de reproduction uniquement par la Revue, sauf convention particulière préalable entre l’auteur et éditeur.

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Consultative meeting and workshop Annex 5.1 for strengthening African medical journals Geneva, 14-16 October 2002

National, Regional and International Visibility of health research : presentation and panel discussion. Monday, 14 October 2002 – 14:00-15:30

Shyama Kuruvilla Email:[email protected]

Agenda Item 5.1.Rethinking the role of national health research publication

Inequitable access to global scientific information highlighted the need for national publishing of research.Recent efforts,like the Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative, are significant- ly improving global access to health research information.The role of national publishing,however, is still important as regardless of whether information is global, the use of information is always local. There is an opportunity for national publishing of health research to go beyond just replicating models of international scientific publication to facilitating the use of research to improve health and quality of life in countries. Reviewing and systematically synthesizing the research literature, assessing the relevance of the research for the country, publishing research on context-specific problems not covered adequately in the international literature, highlighting problems, presenting strategic options, evaluating policy and program implementation,and disseminating the research to different stakeholders in the country are some potential areas for focus. In addition,national publications offer a forum to build up the culture and skills required for local researchers to effective- ly communicate their work.Drawing on related experiences in countries and on the WHO Health Research System Analysis Initiative this presentation highlights the need for creative thinking on the role of national health research publication.

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Annex 5.2 PubMed: Giving visibility to medical journals and research results

Sheldon Kotzin, National Library of Medicine E-mail: [email protected]

MEDLINE® is the most frequently accessed database in Medicine or any other subject area in the world. Each weekday more than 200,000 users access MEDLINE via the NLM PubMed system and conduct more than 1.2 million searches. Usage is world-wide. The U.S.represents 52% of PubMed use; Japan about 10%; the remaining 38% come from researchers and clinicians from more than 150 other countries. Many scientists consider inclusion in MEDLINE as the single most important factor in selecting a journal in which to publish. Inclusion in MEDLINE also positively impacts a journal. It leads to more and better quality manuscripts;increased advertising revenue; and more subscribers. And it results in authors becoming more well known throughout the world. What can be said about the coverage of African journals in MEDLINE? Traditionally, it has been difficult for African journals,especially those from sub-Sahara Africa,to get recommended for inclusion. Not only are African journals underrepresented in MEDLINE but in the NLM collection as well. The same is true for journals from most other southern hemisphere countries. In an unsci- entific survey of publication patterns of African researchers cited in MEDLINE,it appears that most prefer to publish in U.S.or European journals. When researchers do publish in African journals,it is almost always in journals from their own country. The one exception seems to be among Kenyans. Only 38% of primary authors who published in Kenyan journals were from Kenya. A total of 62% of primary authors were from twelve other African countries. This kind of distribution of authorship is looked at favorably by the advisory committee that considers journals for inclusion in MEDLINE. There are many other factors considered;they will be discussed in my second presentation. What are some of the other ways that PubMed adds visibility to journals and their authors? One click gets a user from a PubMed citation to a journal’s Web site. Many journals make money by providing the full text for a fee. There are a growing number of textbooks on PubMed with links between topics they cover and journal citations in MEDLINE. PubMed offers a way to search for meta-analyses and evidence-based research. And now PubMed links gene and proteins mentioned in journal articles to molecular biology databases. There are a multitude of benefits derived from inclusion in MEDLINE,and NLM is prepared to do as much as possible to see that African journals have a fair and considerate review. The dilemma for African editors is that it appears that a journal needs high-quality content from recognized authors to get indexed and yet it is difficult to attract high-quality content from recognized authors unless one’s journal is indexed. Knowledge of the journal review and selection process will help overcome this dilemma.

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BioMed Central: open access publishing Annex 5.3

Delphine Grynszpan (Managing editor, New specialist journals) E-mail: [email protected]

BioMed Central is an independent online publishing house. It is pioneering a business model that makes it possible for publishers to provide immediate barrier-free access to peer-reviewed research papers (open access). We define open access as follows: • Articles are universally and freely accessible via the Internet,in an easily readable format - current preference is XML with a declared DTD - and deposited immediately upon publication in at least one widely and internationally recognized open access repository (in our case, PubMed Central). • The author(s) or copyright owner(s) irrevocably grant(s) to any third party, in advance and in perpetuity, the right to use, reproduce or disseminate their article in its entirety or in part, in any format or medium, provided that no errors are introduced in the process, proper attribution of authorship and correct citation details are given,and that the bibliographic details are not changed, and,if reproduced or disseminated in part,provided that this is clearly and unequivocally indicated. BioMed Central’s model combines the benefits of online publishing and an open access policy: •Very high visibility - anyone with Internet access can freely read the articles. • Rapid publication - online submission, administration tools and Internet production expedite the process.Publication reflects the time it takes to peer review. • Authors retain copyright to their article - are free to post their article on the web and distribute it to colleagues. • Users can freely access,download and print copies of the articles.So, even if only one person in a group has Internet access,the information can still easily be disseminated. • All articles are indexed in the PubMed and permanently archived in the US National Institutes of Health’s PubMed Central. The cost of publishing with this model is much less than in a subscription-based print journal.It is funded through payment of an article-processing charge and through advertising. BioMed Central publishes more than 80 open access online journals:the BMC collection and the new specialist journals. The new specialist journals initiative was launched a year ago.We offer research groups and learned societies the means to start an online open access journal.The academic editors determine the content of the journal and retain control of the editorial policy and the peer review process. BioMed Central provides a journal website and a complete publishing system. Each project is assessed for credibility and feasibility, and we then work with the editors to set up the journal and publish its content. We have launched 23 such journals to date, such as:Malaria Journal,International Journal for Equity in Health,Kinetoplastid Biology and Disease, Environmental Health,Nutrition Journal,Cancer Cell International, Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine . BioMed Central aims to set a new role for the publisher as a service provider to the science and medical community. It has now developed real expertise in electronic publishing and in managing open access journals.We hope some of this knowledge and existing systems can prove useful to African editorial groups.

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References: BioMed Central: http://www.biomedcentral.com/ PubMed Central: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/ New specialist journals initiative: http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/startajournal.asp/

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Existing networks and resources for Annex 6 medical editors

Summary of session 6

This session introduced 5 international organizations of editors:

•World Association of Medical Editors, WAME, was presented by Ana Marusic.WAME is an «virtual»,electronic community aimed at medical editors all over the world. Its web site provides a forum for exchanging experiences of editors,but also provides guidance in standards of editorial work,as well as educational resources for medical editors.It also aims,in cooperation with other organizations, to reach out to the editors in different geographical regions and provide education in the local environment. • Council of Science editors (CSE), former Council of Biology Editors, was presented by Annette Flanagin.CSE is the association of editors of from different scientific fields.Most members come from the US,but it has international members,including developing countries.It provides different resources for editors,including their publication,style manual,and editorial policies.At their annual meeting, CSE also offers Short sources for journal editors.Annette also spoke of JAMA International Fellowship in Medical Journalism, which is a 2-4 month fellowship to introduce editors to different aspects of journal production.Annette also introduced the Conferences on Peer Review, which offers sponsored scholar program for editors from financially less privileged journals to attend the Conference and a Course for Biomedical Editors before the Conference. • The programs of the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes for Health was introduced by Karen Hofman.The Center is in the process of consultation with respect to a potential program to promote scientific research culture internationally by training editors, researchers and journalists. • International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) was presented by Pippa Smart.INASP works on improving access to reliable information for health care workers in developing and transition countries.One of its activities is organizing workshop for journal editors, which they design on request and work in collaboration with local editors.In future, INASP plans to develop a modular program of such workshops,and provide training of the editors who would serve as trainers in their own community. • Tim Albert presented the Tunbridge Wells course for editors, which his firm does in collaboration with BMJ and Blackwell Publishers.The courses involves group work and many exercises related to editorial work, especially in relation to journal’s owners, readers, authors, and the general public.

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Annex 6.1 Existing networks and resources for medical editors

(topics introduced by WAME – Ana Marusic)

Monday, 14 October - 16:30-18:00

WAME:World Association of Medical Editors Ana Marusic

The World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) is an electronic community of medical editors. It was established in 1995,with the aim of improving the standards of medical editing in the world’s medical journals, especially those that have difficulty meeting high standards because of limited resources.WAME took advantage of the World Wide Web to address the problems of editors,so that its evolution would be independent of expensive face-to-face association meetings.There are now almost 700 editors in WAME, representing journals in 52 countries. It serves as a meeting place for editors and the place to share problems and solutions experienced by medical journal editors around the world.The rapid growth in participation and activity reflects the fact that editors can join WAME at no cost and have full access to WAME’s web site (wame.org) and electronic discussion groups.

Related reading: Resources for editors and Syllabus for Editors at wame.org and http://www.cmj.hr/2001/4202/03.pdf (World Association of Medical Editors.Report of the World Association of Medical Editors:Agenda for the Future. Croat Med J 2001; 42: 121-126.

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Tunbridge Wells course for editors Annex 6.2

1. How did it start? The course was started in 1996,at the request of Richard Smith,Editor of the BMJ,and has a maximum of 24 participants. It originally had five tutors and was built around a series of lectures/discussions. Now there are two tutors/ facilitators, and participants spend most of their time working in small groups.This course has also been run in Stockholm for the Swedish Medical Journal, and for editors from developing countries at the 2001 Barcelona course on peer review.

2. What does the course cover? The syllabus is arranged in four main groups: • Owners: who they are, how editors relate to them,and how editors define their own role; • Readers: how to keep their interest - through structure (journal and website), design,and effective copy editing; • Authors: how to set up effective copy flow and reviewing systems, and how to attract good authors,thereby raising the impact factor; • The Public: and how to discharge responsibilities to a number of groups, such as patients, lawyers and various pressure groups.

3. What have we learnt from the course? Each course is evaluated,and a number of lessons have been learnt; these include the following. • Editors have very little formal training,and often come in to the post believing the job is one of chief reviewer. • Medical journals have drifted away from newspapers and magazines,but mainstream journal ism can offer many interesting solutions. • The needs of authors are too frequently allowed to come before the needs of readers - and the general public. • Electronic publishing is playing an increasingly important part. • The experiences and needs of special journal editors are different from those of general jour nal editors. • The experiences and needs of editors in poorer countries are different from those in richer countries.

4. What happens now? The course is being held in Stockholm in November. Future partners are being sought to bring this course to a wider international audience.

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Personal development plans

1. Where are you now? The first stage of a personal development plan is to assess where you are now.This can be done in the form of a SCOD analysis. • Strengths: what do I do well? • Challenges: what could I do better? • Opportunities: where could I be in three years time? • Developments: what do I need to do in order to get there?

2. Where do you want to be? The second stage is to work out where you want to be in the future.This,in conjunction with the SCOD analysis, will help you to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes you now need to acquire. Set training goals that will be: • Specific • Measurable • Agreed or ambitious • Realistic • Time-related

3. How do you get there? People learn in different ways. One commonly used classification is that used by Honey and Mumford (Learning Style Preference, published by Peter Honey, ISBN 0 950844 11). • Activists: love trying out new ideas. • Reflectors: stand back,observe and consider. • Theorists: create abstract theories. • Pragmatists: interested in putting what they have learnt into practice. Understanding how you like to learn will help you to decide on suitable means.These include: courses,lectures, reading books,and periodicals,shadowing other people in their jobs,visiting web sites, etc.

4. How will you know when you get there? In addition to the information you will collect, you should keep an overall log of your progress. This will enable you to keep track of where you are, what you need to do and,if appropriate, note when you get there.There are many kinds of logs but the essential things to keep are the date, the activity and what you learnt from it.

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INASP workshop for journal editors Annex 6.3

WHO session 6

P. Smart (INASP)

Current workshop programme

•Workshops designed upon request •Working with partners:(1) Provide funds: review materials: provide resource packs (e.g. Bangalore, Nigeria):(2) Work collaboratively with another body to design and run workshops (e.g.Chilean conference);(3) Upon request,establish and run workshops either in-country, or in the UK (e.g. workshop on publishing online journals)

Future workshop programme

• Build a modular programme in discussion with Editors and Publishers • Provide more in-country workshops and training •Work with in-country trainers to build in-country resource

Possible subjects and scope

Editorial • Editing,authoring and style skills • Instructions for authors and service for authors •Peer review • Content decisions

Production, promotion,distribution • Production (from manuscript to bound / online copy) • Promotion / visibility (the message and the messenger) • Distribution (reaching the reader)

Publishing business • Launching a new journal • Concept to maturity • Managing a journal (financial and scholarly success) • Publishing debates

Subjects/scope for discussion

Editorial • Editing,authoring and style skills - Skills for editors - editing for style, how much/little to change

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- Skills for researchers - writing up research for publication,basic authoring skills (presentation,grammar, structure and validation of contents) • Instructions for authors and service for authors - What guidance should a journal give for authors, and what service •Peer review - Processes - Selection of reviewers - Guidance for reviewers, rewards for reviewers, and good practice for dealing with them • Content decisions -Journal content, article type, attracting new authors, changing the content mix - Ensuring the right content for the readers (and authors) - Ensuring the right content for the journal’s reputation

Production • Subediting - Preparing the copy (for print and online?) •Typesetting - Design (enforcing the content with the right appearance) - Setting the pages (and preparing the data for online?) • Proofing - Checking everything is ready to print (quality control) • Printing - Materials (Paper? Boards?), quality, buying print

Promotion / visibility • Marketing - the message and the messenger - Copywriting accurately (For different media?) - Methods of marketing (Direct mail? Exhibitions? Free copies?) • Marketing plans (Budget? Short- and long-term?) • Abstracting and indexing services - How to get the journal visible worldwide

Distribution • Print and/or online - Setting the publication date - Finding the right route to the reader • Subscription management - Managing mail lists, privacy and selling lists, order and payment control,subscription renewals • Stock management • Document delivery - Selling individual articles

Publishing Business

Launching a new journal • Rationale (Why launch a new journal?) • Authors and readers (Who are they? How to get to them?)

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• Business plan (Costs, revenue, long-term goals and means of achieving them) • Setting up the people resources (Editors, reviewers,administrators, etc.) Managing a journal • Financial success - The business plan (Ensuring longevity of the journal through planning) - Financial management - Building and retaining revenue streams (Subscription and non-subscription? Donor funding?) • Managing costs • Scholarly success - Quality (Of articles? Of submissions? Service to authors and readers?) • Legal issues - Copyright and other rights - Libel and defamation - Registration of the journal -Taxes

Publishing debates • Open archives (SPARC initiative) • Open reviewing (telling authors who reviews their paper) • Rights of the author to retain copyright (implications for future publication) • Public Library of Science (“free after 6 months”) • Date of publication (including pre-publication, revision …) • Conflict of interest regarding funding (“who pays the piper, calls the tune”)

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Annex 7 Meeting international standards: quality and ethics in research and publishing

Meeting and maintaining international standards in peer-reviewed biomedical journals challenges the editors of all journals,large or small, renowned or obscure, regional or international. The lively activity of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) List-serve highlights the high preva- lence of ethical problems in both research and publishing.Indeed, numerous articles point out the inadequacies of the studies of even the most respected journals.Furthermore, editors of biomedical journals often do not have the training in research design and implementation to assess the quality of research.They also may not understand the potential problems with bias in articles supported by firms that have substantial interest in promoting a product. R e s o u rces such as the CONSORT h t t p : / / c o n s o rt - s t a t e m e n t . o r g and QUORUM (Lancet 1999;354:1896–900) statements provide valuable assistance in assessing the scientific quality of studies.The Helsinki statement http://www.wma.net/e/policy/17c.pdf is an invaluable resource in assessing the ethical quality of human research.Furthermore, the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE http://www.publicationethics.org.uk/), though limited in membership to the UK and Europe, provides useful information and guidelines on the ethical aspects of research. Additional resources on quality and ethics in research and publishing for editors of biomedical journals are located at the WAME Web site http://www.wame.org under the section, Resources for Editors.

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Finding and keeping good reviewers Annex 8

Editors treasure good reviewers, but how do we find them? More importantly, how do we keep them? Peer review is essential to the editorial process in biomedical journals, but all but the largest journals have nei - ther the time nor the resources to attract peer reviewers. Smaller journals certainly cannot pay peer review - ers, as some of the larger journals do.Editors of smaller journals are likely to use colleagues known to them; i.e., in the country or region.

The advent of easy access to the Internet provides opportunities for finding reviewers through MEDLINE, and I have noticed that reviewers of international stature are often willing to assist editors of smaller journals. Using published manuscripts to identify manuscripts has the advantage of permitting the editor to focus on the specific topic of the manuscript to identify the most qualified reviewers.Also, it was pointed out at the 1997 Peer Review Congress in Prague that younger reviewers tend to do better reviews, probably because they have more time to do the reviews. Some editors create large editorial boards comprising members who have agreed to review a certain number of manuscripts annually.The large board, especially if it is international in scope, provides the journal and the board members with some prestige. The key to finding and keeping good reviewers is good manners: • If possible, before sending a manuscript out to review, ask potential reviewers politely if they are willing to do the work within a prescribed but reasonable time; • Always promptly thank the reviewer for the review; • Promptly share the journal’s decision and the other reviewers’ comments with each reviewer; • Reward excellent reviewers with letters that they can use in their promotion and tenure dossier; • Treat authors with respect for they often make good reviewers.

Bruce P. Squires, MD, PhD 2002/09/10

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Annex 9 Meeting international standards

(topics introduced by WAME – Bruce Squires)

Tuesday 15, October 2002 - 14:00-15:00

High quality in medical science and medical practice: the role of medical editors

Ana Marusic

Journal editors play an important role in the advancement of medical science and practice in their communities. Producing a good journal and keeping good editorial practice, the Editor can influence the medical community at many levels. The Editor’s most important role in a small scientific community is educational:with his or her editorial integrity, he or she can set the standards of publishing and research, which are transferred to the local community by the very nature of the publishing process.Author-helpful policy is in the essence of education: by working with authors on the best presentation of their data,the editor can teach them all aspects of good publication – format of the scientific article, completeness and accuracy of data presentation,correct citation of the literature, organization of tables,design of figures and other factors contributing to the scientific validity of the research paper.The editor can also improve the peer review process by teaching journal reviewers and thus help the authors and the journal.The editor can also initiate and lead wider educational activities in the scientific community, at the level of the institution of the university. Clearly, the position of a journal editor in a small scientific community is not only a position of (deserved) honor, but a position of a hard-working teacher.

Related reading: Marusic M,Marusic A.Good Editorial Practice:Editors as Educators.Croat Med J 2001; 42: 113-120. (http://www.cmj.hr/2001/4202/4202.htm)

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Annex 10 Training Editors: 10 lessons

1. LIFESTYLE:medical editors like nice hotels. This means putting them in comfortable environments if you want them to learn.

2. CURRICULUM: wants are not the same as needs. Medical editors do not necessarily know what they need to know.

3. LEARNING: you can’t teach medical editors anything! They have to learn for themselves.

4. OVERVIEW:medical editors need a perspective. There is a lot of information, but it needs to be bound into a coherent view.

5. CROSS FERTILISATION: useful lessons can come from outside the medical journal community. Magazines and newspapers have built up a wealth of evidence-based experience.

6. CHANGE:electronic publishing is bringing about fundamental changes. We need to equip medical editors for a fast-changing world.

7. DIVERSITY: not every medical editor is a star. There are many different types of medical editors.

8. COLONIALISM:medical editors need a range of models. Rich general journals may not be the best models.

9. LIFESTYLE:editing needs to be easier, not harder. Action depends on motivation.

10. ACTION: medical editors need to do things. The real measure of a course is what happens afterwards.

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Presentation by Mr Tim Albert

STRENGTHS

- close to the field

- sustainable

- contributes to knowledge

- unique disease/health conditions

- unifying influence

- local production

- visibility to local journals

- strong voluntary spirit

- help mobilise resources

CHALLENGES

- money (none)

- weak economies

- scientific level/dissemination

- be more visible

- planning

- listen more

- continuity

- small scientific community

- better communications

- better marketing

- need for agitator

- poor reading/writing/culture

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OPPORTUNITIES

-Training/skills

- opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes

- dedicated people

- networking

- twinning

- health providers/users

- private sector partnership

- low costs

- technology revolution

DEVELOPMENT NEEDS I

- strengthen technical (editorial/production/marketing) skills

- evaluation of journal’s readers’/reviewers’/editors’/authors’ needs

- raise funds etc.

- sustain the publication

DEVELOPMENT NEEDS II

- distribution mechanisms

- technological infrastructure

- marketing

- in-house publishing (including desktop publishing skills)

- permanent competence

- time management skills

- building web sites for greater visibility

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Annex 12 Training Workshop

15 October 2002-10-15

Meeting International Standards: quality and ethics in research and publishing

Barbara Aronson presented the essential points that facilitate the librarian’s job in processing the journals and also the use of journals by readers . This included journal format, numbering of volumes and issues, layout of pages and cover to facilitate photocopying and subsequent retrieval of a journal. Her main point was that the more these points were taken into account by the editors, the more used the journals would be by readers. She also talked about the importance of the abstract for journal to be indexed in international databases. She encouraged editors to work with librarians who in fact promote the consultation of journals. Dan Ncayiyana told us about the role of the editor in an African Medical Journal, based on his experience in the South African Medical Journal. He talked about the size of the article limited to 3000 words,the high rejection rate of submitted articles and the conflict of interest. He also spoke of the publishing regularity of his journal which is published monthly. In the discussion that followed several questions were raised. One participant mentioned the problem of irregular publishing due to lack of manuscripts and also the fact that some editors have to re-write the articles submitted. Reviewers’ comments should be constructive and some times there is language problem on the part of the authors who cannot reply to the reviewers’ comments. In fact most of the editors agreed that medical editors should “groom up” authors in medical schools. A rapid survey was conducted among the participants to ask about their policy concerning reviewers’ conflict of interest. There was none except for the SAMJ. Annette Flanagin made a exhaustive presentation about the understanding, awareness and use of the peer review process.She described the different types of peer review:blind,anonymous and open. It was suggested to use PubMed to identify reviewers.Another suggestion was to set up a common database of reviewers for African medical editors There was a free discussion about finding and keeping good reviewers that was moderated by Bruce Squires. One of the participants mentioned that the review process can be different in different cultures (criticising more senior research). There was an exchange of experience concerning editors who published in their own journals.In fact people said that provided there was a warn- ing that the editor’s article had been reviewed by someone else there was no problem. Some people said that it was difficult to keep the peer review process anonymous in countries where there were few specialists in each field writing medical articles. There was a question about authors nominating the reviewers of their own article and it was said that the author could always suggest names but it is up to the editor to decide who is going to he is going to send the article for review. There was also discussion on who makes the final decision to accept and article.Voting was recommended for small journals. The final decision can also be taken by final consensus of the editorial board. Dr Ana Marusic presented the history of the Croatian Medical Journal. How it was indexed after six years of existence. She also told us how the editorial board invest in potential authors through organizing writing workshops in medical schools.The role of the editor as a shepherd and educa- tor. Re-writing articles submitted in Croatian in English. She also told about her experience of putting her journal online which increased the number of subscriptions.

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Personal development plans for editors was introduced by Tim Albert. It was group discussions about the strengths, challenges, opportunities and development needs. v distribution mechanisms v Technological infrastructure v marketing v in-house publishing (including desktop publishing skills) v raise funds etc. v sustain the publication

The peer review dilemmas for editors was also a group discussion who discussed four case studies.

75 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

Annex 13.1 Funding of biomedical journals: threats and opportunities

Summary of Session 13

In an attempt to determine some of the characteristics and needs of the editors of biomedical journals, we designed the membership-application form for the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) to ask applicants to provide data about the journal. ON September 28, 2002, WAME comprised 801 members from 65 countries, representing 488 journals.Table 1 summarizes the basic characteristics, if available, of the journals.Although only 16 African journals are represented in WAME, their median characteristics are similar, but the ranges are narrower

Table 1: Comparison of the characteristics of all the journals of WAME members with those of the member African journals.

WAME journals (including Africa) WAME African journals N=488 N=16 Characteristic N Range Median N Range Median Circulation 362 15–500 000 3000 13 300–20 000 4500 1st published year 443 1812–2003 1984 16 1884–2001 1989-1992 Issues/year 443 1–52 6 16 1–12 8 Ms/year 371 5–9500 150 12 30–460 90 Accept rate 377 2%–100% 50% 13 30%–98% 60% Reviewers/ms 355 1–30 2 12 1-2 2 Table 2 summarizes the funding data from the editors of 418 WAME journals and 15 African journals represented in WAME.The data should be viewed with some caution.Although the application form asked that the applicant indicate only the primary source of funding, many identified more than one source (Combinations).Nineteen journals publish only online.Also, many journals in all parts of the world face the same problems faced by the editors of African journals.A more general analysis may provide more useful data.

Table 2. Funding sources for all WAME journals compared with those of African WAME journals.

WAME journals (including Africa) WAME African journals N=488 N=16 Source of funds No. % No. % Advertising 91 22% 4 27% Membership dues 99 24% 2 13% Subscriptions 114 27% 1 7% Government/UN 15 4% 1 7% Society 5 0.1% 0 0% Institution 12 3% 1 7% Combinations 72 17% 6 40%

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Advertising memberships dues and subscriptions equally constitute the primary sources for three- quarters of all the member WAME journals,but for only one-half of the WANME African journals, which tended to rely on more governmental or institutional support The proliferation of online peer-reviewed medical journals provides a wealth of information to practitioners anywhere in the world, providing they have access and the time to use an Internet connection. In addition, more and more journals are providing free access either immediately or after a fixed period post publication;indeed,some journals preferentially provide African countries with immediate access to their journals.Although this is beneficial to health practitioners in African countries,this easy access threatens the traditional print journals worldwide.As authors recognize the ease and speed of publication in online journals,the number of manuscripts submitted to traditional journals is likely to decline. Online journals have the remarkable advantage of saving publishers the costs of printing,paper and distribution—a substantial advantage for smaller journals,providing the journal publishers have the skills and computers to undertake web publishing, and providing practitioners have reliable access to the internet. Ensuring this access should be a primary goal of governments and international agencies. In addition, if smaller journals are to compete with larger, more mature, well-recognized and well-respected journals. Journal editors also need to be able to maintain high scientific standards for their journals.This is a challenge for editors of smaller journals with less frequent publication. For the editor, redaction is a part-time and secondary activity, and they have little opportunity for more formal training. Online resources for editors, such as those provided by WAME, and regional workshops using experienced editors and former editors as workshop leaders and mentors, can help editors of smaller journals gain the experience to lead their journals to the highest standards of scientific publication.

Bruce P. Squires, MD, PhD 2002-09-28

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Annex 13.2 Production: Is it worth the cost?

WHO Session 13.2

P. Smart (INASP) E-mail: [email protected] Head of Publications,Publishing Initiatives and Publishing Training

A word about quality

•Perception of your publication – by authors and readers • From the appearance of your publication, does it look like a carefully-prepared, professional, high quality publication? Regardless of the content,the first impression is based on the look of the publication • If the presentation is careless, is the science any more careful? • Does improving quality increase the costs – not necessarily

The journal specification

• It is important to ensure that the journal specification is appropriate for the content and for the audience (both the authors and the readers). • Getting the specification right may save money, and improve the look (and the perception) of the journal

Colours

• More colour = more cost • Colour is expensive to print, and can be a problem to proof, so a decision to include colour within the text should consider the practical issues.The colour of the cover is important – it may be just one colour, or full colour, but it should be appropriate for the journal • What is required? • By the journal content •To make the journal look professional (reader and author expectation)

Size

The format (page size) of the journal can affect not only the appearance of the journal, but also the cost: • The number of pages of the journal (do more pages make the journal look better value?) • What is the most economical page size for your printer? To avoid paper waste or wasting machine time) • What is a good size for the readers - and library shelves – do not make the publication too big or too small • Thinking of proofs – what is the best page size for proofs (easy to print out and send or fax)

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Quantity

•For traditional (lithographic print),the unit cost (i.e. the cost of each copy published) is reduced as you print more copies.The reason for this is: •You will be charged for the printer to administer the job, to make the films,the plates,and to set up the machine - you will be charged this before you print one copy - Then you will be charged a rate for keeping the machine running – the longer your run the machines the more you can “spread” the set-up cost over more copies - Then there will be a charge for delivery (the more copies,the more expensive) • So printing more copies make each copy cheaper? •Yes – but remember an unsold copy = a non-recoverable cost (and what about storage charges – will you have to pay for storing all those un-sold copies?) • It is far better to print the right number of copies (even when the unit cost of each one is higher) – it is better to think of the total printing cost,not the cost per copy.

Materials

• The paper and cover board used in your journal immediately make it look better or worse • What is the right type of paper – it may not be the most expensive – do you need a glossy paper (only if you have colour of a lot of critical photographs in the journal) • What is the right type of cover board – it may not be the most expensive • (And remember the weight of the materials will affect your postage costs!)

Typesetting (online and print)

The page design is crucial to the quality of your publication – if it is right it will be easy to read, look professional and give the journal a feel of quality • Other considerations - The number of words on a page – the fewer you have the more pages you have to print - The right style for the journal – should it be modern or classic? • Setting the pages into style costs money – whether it is someone’s time, or an invoice from a professional company • The time to typeset (and the cost) can be affected by the complexity of design, and by the content – maths is complex to set • A high level of corrections will increase the cost – you should aim for very few corrections at proof • Artwork can be expensive to originate – but badly-drawn figures can spoil the look of the journal • Do you need to prepare the journal for online publication? If you do, this may increase the costs – depending on how the journal is typeset.

Quality

• May cost money - E.g. More expensive printer

79 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

• May not cost money - E.g. better journal design • May save money - E.g. More efficient copyeditor

Journal workflow

It is important to ensure the journal is being produced efficiently, and this can be evaluated by looking at the journal workflow – but do not forget the “additional” tasks that may be undertaken – even if they are not required! They can make the process inefficient even when the workflow looks good. • Question who needs to do what – do you need to separately proof-read the papers, or can the authors be trusted to do this? • Are there more efficient ways of working - E.g. send the typesetter a full issue in one batch and not individual articles • Evaluate workflow Look into each stage to see if efficiencies can be introduced •Tracking and administration - What do you keep records of? Why do you keep records? Do you need more informa tion – or less! • Reporting - What reports do you produce? Do you produce enough,or too much? • Time management - Organise tasks, avoid unnecessary activities, it can be much more productive to “batch” your work (i.e. to copyedit 10 papers at once than one paper each day

Supplier selection

• The first question is whether the production task needs to be done by an external company, or can be done in-house. (But remember hidden costs of staff time, communication costs, etc.) • Can one person perform two roles (e.g. using one person to administer and edit the journal) • Selection of external supplier: it is important to use the right supplier – one that has experience one you can trust, and one who provides the quality you want for the price you want to pay •Working with suppliers requires the establishing of a good professional relationship, and the ability to trust each others’ judgement, and to advise each other on better ways of working – but remember it is a contractual agreement

Quality control

What are you looking for in quality control – here are some thoughts: • Control of copy supplied for typesetting -Well edited - free from errors (no outstanding questions for authors - if possible) - File supply in a usable format to avoid re-keying - Graphics of acceptable quality

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• Control of material supplied for printing - Clean camera-ready-copy, good density of black lettering,sharp figures for reproduction - File supply: correct version,high resolution graphics,in correct format, correct attributes (e.g. embedded fonts) • Print quality - Density of print - solid black, even blackness over all pages,no infill in illustrations - Colour register (no blurred edges!),no misalignment, - Ink rub (setoff),Moire patterns, hickies - Overall appearance - brightness,clearness • Binding - Neat, even gluing - adequate but not too much.Tightly sewn sections - Covers aligned correctly, journal cut square and sharply

Pippa Smart E-mail: [email protected] Head of Publications, Publishing Initiatives and Publishing Training INASP Oxford OX1 1HU, UK

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Annex 13.3 Financing, production, marketing and dissemination

(topics introduced by WAME – Bruce Squires)

Wednesday, 16 October: 9:00-10:30

Problems of marketing medical journals at national and international levels: tackling the distribution problem

Ana Marusic

Journals from small or developing countries have low quality and poor visibility in the international scientific community, which brings about their small readership (number of subscriptions) and fewer advertisements.The circulation of the journal is usually low, but this does not mean low production price. Because of these factors,the journal is never financially self contained and independent from other sources of funding,such as government subsidy. However, before tackling the problem of distribution and journal marketing, the editor has to think his or her journal: is it a commercial journal or is it a journal published by a professional society or institution.In the first case, training in marketing and management skills is essential for an editor. Most of the journals from small scientific communities fall into the second category. For them, the best visibility can be achieved by putting the journal on the web. Exchange of journals and donations to the libraries can also increase the visibility of the journal. However, the essence of journal’s visibility is its quality and choice of topics.

Related reading: Marusic A, Marusic M.Small Scientific Journals from Small Countries: Breaking from a Vicious Circle of Inadequacy. Croat Med J 1999; 40: 508-514. (http://www.cmj.hr/1999/4004/4004.htm)

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Journal selection for MEDLINE® Annex 14.1

Session 14.1

Sheldon Kotzin, National Library of Medicine E-mail: [email protected]

The MEDLINE database is steeped in tradition. When it began as Index Medicus in 1879, its editor, Dr.John Shaw Billings,would take journals home with him and,using index cards,assign two or three subject headings that described the contents of each article. Now MEDLINE has 12,000,000 citations dating back to 1966 from nearly 4600 journals published in 72 countries thoughout the world. Today, decisions on what journals should be indexed are made by the Director of NLM who generally accepts the recommendations of an important NLM advisory committee – the Literature Selection Technical Review Committee or LSTRC for short. These fifteen people, whose expertise covers a wide variety of subjects and languages,meet three times each year and consider about 150 journals at each meeting. They recommend accepting 25 – 30% of the titles reviewed.

There are some criteria that LSTRC members use to guide them in making their recom - mendations about journals to index: 1) scientific merit; 2) importance; 3) quality of edi - torial work; and, 4) overall production. However, the review is a subjective process and Committee members can give added weight to other factors, such as whether a journal fills a unique niche or covers a new medical technique or an emerging public health problem. This is where African journals may have an advantage. The Director and I have tried to sen - sitize reviewers to the fact that nearly half of PubMed users are from outside the U.S. and that infectious diseases and other public health concerns that begin locally quickly become global concerns. Scientists throughout the world need to know more about research and clinical care in Africa.

There are some strategies for African editors to consider when applying to have a journal reviewed. Use the tactics of major publishers. Promote your journals. If a journal has not been reviewed for MEDLINE, let me know. If it is scheduled for review, do not be shy about telling me about its coverage of important topics,especially content relating to local or regional public health concerns. I will pass this information on to the reviewers.Do not be concerned if the production quality is not comparable to that of journals from major European publishers. If your journal is turned down, apply again. There is no penalty for re-applying. When more African journals are in MEDLINE and their authors are better known throughout the world,it can lead to more submissions from local African authors and improved biomedical research.

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Annex 14.2 Language barriers and issues of duplicate publishing

Session 14.2

Ana Marusic

National, regional and international visibility 11:00-12:30

Most of the journals in the biomedical field are published in English. In small scientific communities, there are journals published in English and journals published in the native language of the community.These two types of journals should not be regarded as competitive and exclusive of each other, but complementary efforts to promote medical science and practice.Journals in English have the role of presenting important information from the medical/scientific community to the international readership, whereas journals published in the native language have mostly educational role – to transfer information from the international community to the broad population of health professionals.The former journals have a hard task of language editing, especially if English is not the native language in the country.The latter journals have an equally hard task of becoming leaders of their professional medical community – educating physicians, setting standards, developing national terminology, and stimulating debate over important health issues.

Related reading: Marusic A, Marusic M. Small Scientific Journals from Small Countries: Breaking from a Vicious Circle of Inadequacy. Croat Med J 1999; 40: 508-514. (http://www.cmj.hr/1999/4004/4004.htm)

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Online journals – problems, pitfalls Annex 15 and solutions

Session 15

P. Smart (INASP)

Some considerations for debate

Rationale

• What is the need for an online journal? (Is the online version suggested to replace the print version?)

Business plan

• Specification for journal: - Exactly the same as the print journal,or including different components (e.g. omitting indexes, including large data sets,including colour figures)? - Pre-publication or issue-publication only? - Full text in HTML and/or PDF or proprietary language, or tables of contents plus abstracts only? - Additional article functionality (e.g.links from references)? - Online provision “from today”, or to include back-issues? • Online host - Self-host, commercial host, or other host - Is there a need for online commercial transactions (see below) •Workflow - File formatting for online publishing – working in an electronic environment there are many considerations, for example: 1. typesetting software 2. artwork – must be electronic (supplied by the author? Scanned? Redrawn electronically?) 3. choice of typeface (special characters,postscript font?) 4. file transfer (ftp? Floppy disc? CDROM? ZipDisc?) 5. file management (quality control? Version control?) w Quality control for online publication • Sales - Free or subscription (calendar year, or anytime-start) - Article purchase online - Subscription price – separate online, or bundled with print - Price for individual article purchase -Policy for free issues (trial period? For promotion? After specified period?) - Customer service (provide help desk? Provide guides/support for users?)

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• Promotion - Methods of publicising online journal – including budget,and plan (for 1-2 years at least) - ervice for authors as well as readers? Online offprints? • Budget - Cost of changing workflow (including staff time, additional charges from editors and typesetters, additional online time required by staff,additional computer capacity required, etc.) - Cost of hosting (monthly, annual charges,charges per article, per issue, etc.) - Cost of capturing back issues if required - Financial return from online transactions (will the host retain a percentage) - Expected increase in revenue (if any) - Expected loss of print revenue (if any) • Timescale - How long to change workflow - How long to trial - How long to capture back files - Launch date

Implementation

• Plan • Resource • Announce • Implement • Publicise

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Minutes of a special meeting of african Annex 16 medical editors WHO/TDR, Geneva

Wednesday, 16 October 2002

Present

Fidelis MORFAW Chief,Publications and Language Services,WHO/AFRO Chairman

Davy K. KOECH Editor-in-Chief,African Journal of Health Sciences,NAIROBI, Kenya Recorder

James K.TUMWINE Editor,African Health Sciences,KAPALA, Uganda

Daniel NCAYIYANA Editor, South African Medical Journal, DURBAN, South Africa

Oluwole G.AJAO Editor,West African Medical Journal, IBADAN, Nigeria

James KOMLAVI Revue des Sciences Medicales et Biologiques du Togo, LOME,Togo

G. I. MUGUTI Editor, Central African Journal of Medicine, HARARE,Zimbabwe

Patrick MATONDO Editor, Zambian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences,LUSAKA, Zambia

Rosemary W. KINYUA Assistant Editorial Manager,The East African Medical Journal, NAIROBI, Kenya

Adamson MUULA Editor, Malawi Medical Journal, BLANTYRE, Malawi

Rassul NALA Revista Medica de Mocambique, MAPUTO, Mocambique

87 CONSULTATIVE MEETING AND WORKHOP FOR STRENGTHENING AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNALS

David OFORI-ADJEI Ghana Medical Journal, ACCRA, Ghana

Siaka SIDIBE Mali Medical, BAMAKO, Mali

Nancy KAMAU Principal Librarian, Kenya Medical Research Institute, NAIROBI, Kenya

Edith CERTAIN Information Officer, UNDP/World Bank?WHO TDR,GENEVA, Switzerland

Absent with apologies

Yemane BERHANE Editor-in-Chief,Ethiopian Journal of Health Development,ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Sileshi L. DESTA Editor, Ethiopian Medical Journal,ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

1. Objective/Purpose

1.1 The meeting started at 13.00 hrs in the L Building of the WHO.This special meeting was convened in order to address matters facing all aspects of journal publication in Africa.

2. The Facts

2.1 Africa is the second largest continent in the world with a population of about 700 million people consisting of diverse communities. This vast continent has 52 sovereign (independent) states.It has massive resources that have either not been harnessed or the available resources have been plundered. 2.2 Africa has a poor infrastructure such as transportation, telecommunication, and technology. 2.3 The continent is also riddled with unending political instability (in some countries) that has ushered in civil strives, increased numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). 2.4 The scenario had limited the development of science and technology as well as playing a major role in bringing down sustained economic development.Hence, poverty is the economic password. 2.5 The problems facing Africa have not spared the publication of medical research.

3. The Issues

It was observed that: 3.1 Medical journals from the Continent are in various stages of development.Some are fairly visible while others are not visible.A few have stopped being published especially from Francophone countries; and largely due to editorial succession.

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3.2 The journal managers from the North have not taken the information coming out Africa-based journals seriously to the extent that several libraries don’t even sub- scribe to them. 3.3 Resource mobilization is poor.There are limited resources available for production, advertising,marketing,distribution and postage.The availability of resources will ensure sustainability of the journals. 3.4 There is need for training especially for editorial and writing skills development.This will improve the visibility of the journals,quality of manuscripts,networking,staffing, IT access and maintenance. 3.5 There is need for a continental database for effective archival,storage and retrieval of information.This shall require the use of expertise from the North, and utilization of experiences of other similar databases.There is also urgent need to strengthen the African Index Medicus at the WHO/AFRO Office.

4. The way forward

4.1 Taking cognizance of the complexity of the African continent,and the commonality of constraints affecting publication of medical journals from Africa, the Meeting was unanimous in calling for the creation of mechanism(s) for the coordination of activities related to medical journals. 4.2 The establishment of Forum for African Medical Editors (FAME) was proposed and unanimously endorsed. 4.3 The immediate task of FAME is to prioritize the issues raised and attempt to provide solutions. 4.4 A Steering Committee of FAME was formed comprising of the following members: Prof. James Tumwine Convener/Chairman Prof. Davy K. Koech Secretary Prof. Daniel Ncayiyana Member Prof. David Ofori-Adjei Member Dr Siaka Sidibe Member Dr Rassul Nala Member Dr Fidelis Morfaw Ex-Officio/Member

4.5 After a quick consultation by the Steering Committee, it was decided to have the next meeting of the Committee in February 2003 in Nairobi, Kenya.

There being no other business,the Meeting ended at 14.30h.

Davy K. Koech Recorder/Secretary

Mailing address: TDR World Health Organization Avenue Appia 20 1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland

Street address: TDR World Health Organization Centre Casaï 51-53 Avenue Louis-Casaï 1216 Geneva Switzerland

Tel: (+41) 22-791-3725 Fax: (+41) 22-791-4854 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.who.int/tdr

TDR/RCS/FAME/03.1 Original: English