Medical Journal Content Continues Rapid Growth

As readers who have been in the biomedical field for more than a few months realize, medical journal content is growing at an explosive rate. This is promising for the future of innovation and patient care but challenging for studious clinicians and scientists. The purpose of this editorial is to point out a few of the positive aspects of the growth of journal content and, out of respect for the related challenge, we’ve kept our observations concise.

For readers who enjoy perusing Arthroscopy in print, the most obvious evidence of content growth is the enormous amount of information presented for review before the first original scientific article. It starts with the cover, which previews highlights of our contents. The cover also includes a Figure from Arthroscopy Techniques that readers may try to decipher before turning to a confirmatory caption in the pages to follow. After the cover comes advertising from our industry, or academic partners, and AANA. What is notable is that while advertisements may have a commercial basis, ours are typically highly educational and highlight the latest in surgical techniques and devices, or educational opportunities. And, lest we not get too far ahead of ourselves, the cover itself commonly hosts a particularly educational “Cover Tip” advertisement.

Among the ads is the official “Front Matter.” As is standard, we acknowledge our editorial team, feature our Level of Evidence chart, and list the issue’s Table of Contents (TOC). In addition, readers will now find the TOCs for our 2 open-access, electronic-only, companion journals, Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation and Arthroscopy Techniques. The ASMAR TOC includes the article Conclusion and Level of Evidence, or in the case of basic science studies, the Clinical Relevance, and the ATech TOC includes a Figure from each newly published article. There is also the TOC for our Podcasts. Again, there’s a great deal of information to absorb.

In addition, there are Visual Abstracts (which are also posted on our social media platforms before appearing in print). Our Visual Abstracts summarize, or quite literally, “abstract” select recent publications in an inventive new format and comprise much to review and comprehend. Then, naturally, we publish at least one Editorial, like the one you are now reading. And after the Editorial, we frequently publish one or more Letters to the Editor, usually followed by Author Replies. Then comes our monthly Infographic. Infographics are meant to be emphatically informative and visually striking. (Infographics also feature prominently on our social media platforms, and typically represent our most popular postings). On but a single page, and adaptable to a screen as small as a cell phone, Infographics are intended for our surgeons and scientific readers but also for patients and the general public. Infographics simplify and summarize broad topics in an abridged manner yet convey abundant content. The credit for Infographics and Visual Abstracts goes to authors and also to our Infographics and Visual Abstract Editors.^, The amount of editorial work required behind the scenes that results in an effective Infographics or Visual Abstract should not be underestimated. And, bearing in mind that our 1-page Infographics are prepared for a broad audience, we note that Arthroscopy Infographics are accompanied by a formal and detailed Abstract and References, for the benefit of our scientific readers. More content.

If you’ve made it to this Editorial, you’ll still need to read and study Letters and an Infographic, before you reach the scientific articles for which you thought you had “signed up.” Admittedly, first you may need to rest!

Content growth represents a challenge, but our intent is always to produce quality research that enhances knowledge and benefits patients. Our editorial team is deeply appreciative of the authors, reviewers, and editors, who work so hard to serve our readers. We are pleased to disseminate knowledge in a variety of mediums and on a variety of platforms. This is truly an exciting and developmental time for medical journal publication.