EDITORIAL
Associate professor, Vascular Surgery, Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre (FFFCMPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Head, Vascular Surgery Service, Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
After being given the honor to write an editorial on the study "The scientific production of J Vasc Bras: achievements and challenges," by Costa-Val e Sousa Filho,1 I should first of all celebrate it and congratulate the authors for such a fortunate and opportune initiative.
A scientific society is only big when there are solid scientific, corporate and affective bonds between all its members. Our Society, throughout the years, has been walking that path, from Sociedade de Angiologia until, more recently, Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular (SBACV).
A scientific association is only big when, besides a high number of competent and qualified members, has a means of proper scientific communication to foster the necessary and opportune disclosure of updated knowledge to its members.
In the editorial setting, our Society has followed several paths until reaching the point where we are nowadays. There were two other publications, but having the characteristic of being private, at the service of our Society. Then there was a moment of greater crisis, and since it can be a source of solution when well conducted, creation of a new journal J Vasc Br, now J Vasc Bras was planned.
Thus, for the first time, our Society started having its own journal, with all its "pros and cons." Our immediate concern was adding everyone's strengths, recognize the work performed by those before us and aim high. In the International Counsel, we had the pleasure of having the presence of everyone who had already provided their services to our Society. To increase our power of action, since the first issue, we have provided a translation into English of all texts and the online publication of the Brazilian Vascular Journal, with its own INSS. There was an increasing participation of our colleagues, as it could be confirmed that this editorial project would not be only another one, but the ultimate for our Society.
Based on a commitment to punctuality, index in LILACS was recovered and index in SciELO was achieved. Next, there was a growing number of published articles. Today we have, in the study by Costa-Val e Sousa Filho, an excellent contribution, which brings an analysis of everything that has been published by J Vasc Br/J Vasc Bras so far.
I would like to make some considerations on some points stressed by the authors, based on my personal opinion. The percentage of 37.8% of original articles is a challenge to be overcome by SBACV members particularly, and not by J Vasc Bras editors. Only a combined effort can significantly increase the minimal number (64) of original articles published every year. For each problem, there must be a solution: if 20 residence programs send two original articles per year, and 40 independent members send one study per year, this problem can be solved.
Another issue that deserves to be discussed is the number of Brazilian references performed by national authors. The small percentage can be attributed, at first, to the poor tradition we have of publishing. Unfortunately, due to causes that are not always defendable, the little that is published with merits to be cited is rarely included in other authors' references. That fact is due to a cultural and market issue. In the USA, "everyone cites all" national authors. But it is good to remember that only occasionally these authors decide to cross the Atlantic. On the other hand, the absolute majority of our authors "loves" the Northern Hemisphere.
Here we have a cultural context: we are more Latin than Anglo-Saxon. I have published two texts trying to draw attention to the importance of national authors citing national authors. I am sure that time and effort by younger authors will gradually overcome such unjustifiable omission. This issue will be solved when many national authors, respectfully, "lay aside their selfishness" and see not a competitor in another national author, but a partner and pilgrim, both heading in the same direction.
The authors also raise another question. There is no justification for the fact that many approved theses, even cum laude, are not published due to lack of author's interest or because his advisor is not charging him to publish it. This issue can be solved if advisors only agree to thesis defense when the candidate obtains approval for publication in a journal.
The authors end their excellent study reminding us that, if the need and tradition of publishing, for the professor or even physician, is not strong here, this is partly due to the American commitment manifested by the saying "publish or perish," which is inexistent in Brazil. I disagree with the authors when they claim that, for the Brazilian academic author, it is essential to publish abroad, "being even foolish to demand publication here." This can be real in basic sciences, in pure research. However, for most professors with care activity and consolidated academic career, there is little difference having two or more studies published abroad. If these works are published here, we can quickly have a significant growth in the Brazilian editorial process.
In conclusion, I salute the excellent news concerning the future availability, by SBACV, of technical assistance for authors with proper material but without practice in publication, so that they are provided with the necessary support.
I finish by congratulating the authors for their beautiful contribution and, as the first Editor-in-Chief of J Vasc Bras, I express my joy for perceiving its growth and recommend all members to add their efforts in the name of this cause.
Reference
- 1. Costa-Val R, Sousa Filho JC. A produção científica do J Vasc Bras: conquistas e desafios. J Vasc Bras. 2008;7:6-17.
The scientific production of J Vasc Bras
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
24 Apr 2008 -
Date of issue
Mar 2008
