Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to document the functions and characteristics of the Journal of the Turkish Association of Pediatric Surgeons (JTAPS) in the last 29 years, and, to discuss the problems encountered in these years for sustaining and develeoping it.

Material and Method: All of the 72 issues, except the special isssue published in memoriam of HB.Eckstein, were evaluated for all structural and scientific aspects.

Results: There were 781 papers in 71 issues, 65.5% of them were clinical research studies, and 34.5% were case reports. Experimental studies consisted 10% of total, and, 30% of the papers had been presented in Turkish National Congresses of Pediatric Surgery. There were 3589 authors that reflected an average of 4,5 authors per paper. A total of 11583 references had been used in these papers, and average publishing dates of these were 12 years older than publishing years of the studies. 110 studies had been written bu other mediacal specialties. Only 8% of the published papers were products of multicentered studies. Gastrointestinal system was the leading subject in the studies with 33% frequency, followed by genitourinary system with 18% frequency. The most common collaborated medical field was histopathology among 38 different branches. In 671 papers, the first author was a pediatric surgeon, and 66% of these studies were published by pediatric surgical teaching centers.

In the past 29 years; 13 editors and 22 co-editors shared responsibility for maintaining the journal. In spite of all efforts, the main target to publish 3 issues in one year was reached in only 18 years, thus 71 issues were published instead of 87. JTAPS was indexed in Embase/Excerpta Medica for 9 years, and TUBİTAK’s (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) Turkish Medical Index for 7 years in the past, but it’s not indexed in any medical index since 2009.

Conclusion: Our journal, which is unique to pediatric surgery in Turkey, was born with great efforts as a healthy newborn in 1987. After 29 years, this baby became an “ill child”. All pediatric surgeons in our country must take on responsibility for resuscitating and developing this child.