O41: JOURNAL RANKING METHODS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN GENERAL SURGERY - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract Introduction Bibliometrics enable the objective assessment of a journals quality and prestige, making them vital to academic surgical integrity. This paper systematically reviews evidence for current journal-ranking platforms. Method An initial systematic search identified published journal bibliometrics on 5th November 2019. Studies assessing were through second OVID Medline database (PROSPERO:159689) 18th Non-English papers those solely referring author institutional ranking methods excluded. A coding framework was developed assess strengths limitations bibliometrics. Result The returned 2480 articles. All abstracts reviewed leaving 474 full assessment. 306 included in final synthesis. 12 identified. SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) deemed most robust method. Impact Factor (IF) is commonly used but has clear limitations. Altmetrics are likely become more important. Ranking Top 25 general using SJR IF results discordance. Conclusion susceptible manipulation by putting its reliability into question. huge implications surgery, appraisal downstream inclusion clinical guidelines practice. it recommended that this method adopted community going forward. Take-home message widely can be manipulated journals, which surgery evidence-based medicine. should community.