Dear Editors,
there are some relatively new obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) journals that have
similar names to those having a long history [1]. I previously described the following experience [1]. I received an e-mail from the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecological Research
[2], which is different from the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, the
formal journal of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Please notice the
subtle difference between Gynecological versus Gynaecology.
I also received a submission invitation from the Archives of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
[3]. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics (AGO) has long been one of my target journals.
Some time was required for me to recognize that it was not AGO but another journal
with a similar name.
“Obstetrics and Gynecology” and “Gynecology and Obstetrics” are used interchangeably.
The German society name is “the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe)” and the journal name is “Geburtshilfe
und Frauenheilkunde” (“Obstetrics and Gynecology”). Many OBGYN journals have names
Obstetrics and Gynecology (in this order) rather than Gynecology and Obstetrics. Gynecology
is more widely used than Gynaecology. Thus, the two journals’ names with words “Gynecological”
and “Obstetrics and Gynaecology” (this order), respectively, may look natural. They
may look identical to the older journals, especially for less experienced readers.
I have just received another invitation e-mail from the American Journal of Gynecology
& Obstetrics [4]. Readers may easily distinguish it from the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
(AJOG) after hearing this story, but may not before. [Table 1] shows examples of journals with similar names. I added some other examples not described
in the text.
Table 1
Examples of obstetrics and gynecology journals having similar names.
|
Older
|
New
|
|
The left column indicates the journals with a longer history. The right column indicates
the relatively new journals with names resembling the older journals.
* https://openventio.org/open-journal/gynecology-and-obstetrics-research-open-journal/
** https://www.longdom.org/gynecology-obstetrics.html
|
|
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
|
Archives of Obstetrics and Gynaecology [3]
|
|
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
|
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecological Research [2]
|
|
|
Gynecology and Obstetrics Research*
|
|
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
|
American Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics [4]
|
|
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|
Gynecology and Obstetrics**
|
When one names new OBGYN journals, the choice of words is limited: Obstetrics, Gyn(a)ecology,
Archives, Annals, International, Research, and others. Thus, it may be, to some extent,
unavoidable that the journal’s name resembles each other. However, please consider
extreme examples. Let us create two other names resembling AGO: “Archives of Gynaecology
and Obstetrics” and “Archives of Obstetrics and Gynecology”. There will be two AGO
and four ARCH. Widening this beyond journal names, how does one feel when one hears
Benz-Mercedes or Mercedes-Baenz instead of Mercedes-Benz?
Name resemblance may cause some problems. First, less experienced doctors may consider
that they received submission invitations from established journals and not newer
journals with similar names. I checked the author guidelines of these new journals:
there is no explanation that they are different from the established journals. Second,
when one reads an article published in a new journal (in PDF or printed paper), one
may consider that it is from the established journal. New journals are usually not
PubMed indexed and thus readers are less likely to intentionally retrieve articles
published in such journals. However, they are usually open-access and thus may be
easily obtainable. Third, evaluating the publication list becomes difficult. I used
to be an OBGYN director and senior vice president of a university hospital and had
many opportunities to evaluate research proposals and fund applications. Professors
check the candidate’s publication list. Even OBGYN professors may not always be able
to confirm that it is Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and not Archives of Obstetrics
and Gynaecology, let alone professors of other specialties. I would never discuss
which journal, a new or old, is more valuable. I am stating that the name resemblance
may cause misunderstanding and confusion.
I will refrain from saying something against such new journals. They may have some
special purposes. I am only stating the fact that there are some relatively new OBGYN
journals, which have names resembling those of other journals: journals that have
long histories and have long been highly respected. I have heard that the same occurs
in journals of many specialties other than OBGYN.
Some countries have their own OBGYN journals, which usually accept and publish articles
written in both English and their native languages: “Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde”
from Germany, “Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia” from Brazil, and “Nihon
Sanka Fujinka Gakkai zasshi” (Acta Obstetrica et Gynaecologica Japonica) from Japan.
Resemblance of the journal names may not occur in these journals. However, almost
all doctors of, for example, Germany, Brazil, and Japan may read, submit to, or subscribe
to international OBGYN journals having English names.
Does the present situation harm anybody? Should we take some action? This should be
widely discussed among readers, journal editors, publishers, and medical societies.
Before reaching some conclusion, bearing this issue in mind may be useful for journal
readers.
