Authors:
Lesley Pocock (Publisher)
Abdul Abyad (Chief Editor)

Correspondence:
Lesley Pocock
medi+WORLD Internationmal
11 Colston Avenuie
Sherbrooke
Victoria 3789
Australia
Email: lesleypocock@mediworld.com.au

Firstly we thank all regional academics and readers who took part in this survey and who contributed survey questions.

The reply/return rate from academics was 73% and participating academics came from a range of universities and medical schools representing Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, UAE and Jordan.

Your needs and wishes
Data from the survey returns, and comments, were remarkably consistent and showed clear needs and preferences of readers, practitioners and academics.

On the academic side, the free to air archives of previous issues were used 'often' by all but one respondent, (the highest response of the survey) making this a clear need as a research tool. While these archives can be accessed free on our own websites many respondents (also) wanted them on various databases that were either used or preferred by their national academic bodies.

Database presence
We are currently listed on Ebsco databases (including EbscoHost, DynaMed and Cinahl), and Al Manhal database and we have applied for listings on ISI. We will advise further once we hear.
While most of these databases are closed commercial entities we are seeking access to all databases requested by our readers.

All articles are being given a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) as they go on to the Al Manhal database.

In one Middle East country we have submitted the journals to the national academic bodies and have had them meet the national academic criteria, and become accepted, making this another route of journal acceptance for academics publishing their research.

Most readers wanted 'an email reminder of new issues out' and more CME. Both of these will be implemented as from next issue (February 2012) and you can click the following email address to be put onto the email distribution list for the Journal Alerts emails. Contact: admin@mediworld.com.au.

These Alerts will carry journal titles and their authors, for the current issue, with the ability to click directly to the online article.

Readers almost unanimously liked the variety of topics, the relevance of topics and the fact that regional issues were covered. They were also appreciative of the journals as a free resource and most have requested no advertising on the journals. A full report of both surveys can be found further below.

Impact factor / Health Index
These tend to be produced on a publishers' own database (and therefore reflect that company's or databases journals only) or can be worked out via formulae/statistics or via Google search engine.

The accepted formula is:
The impact factor for a journal is calculated based on a three-year period, and can be considered to be the average number of times published papers are cited up to two years after publication. For example, the impact factor 2011 for a journal would be calculated as follows:

A = the number of times articles published in 2009-2010 were cited in indexed journals during 2011

B = the number of articles, reviews, proceedings or notes published in 2009-2010

Impact factor 2011 = A/B

You can also use the following formula to find out the number of citations on an (your) individual author's /academic's own articles:

http://code.google.com/p/citations-gadget/
Take a sample 3 year old issue and apply these formulae to it.

Webstats
The other report we will make available to you on a quarterly basis will be sourced from our 'webstats' software which has been running behind the journals since their launch and where we've seen our combined journal readership grow until its current level of circa 1,000,000 readers / month.

The top (8) MESA/MENA countries reading the journal are: India, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Bangladesh.

The top international reader countries are: USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada and South Africa.

Most used search engines are: b3090789.crawl.yahoo.net; crawl-66-249-67-18.googlebot.com;
213.186.122.2.utel.net.ua; imparser12.yandex.ru; msnbot-207-46-199-37.search.msn.com
Most common access points (after a direct request for the website) are for articles on surgical management, antibiotic sensitivity, and CME.

Academic Survey
The reply/return rate from academics was 73% and contributing academics came from a range of universities and medical schools from Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan and Jordan.

Top three most read journals were: (1) Middle East Journal of Family Medicine/ World Family Medicine (MEJFM/WFM),(2) Middle East Journal of Nursing (ME-JN) and (3) the Middle East Journal of Psychiatry and Alzheimers (ME-JPA). The latter was only launched in 2011 but its early high readership shows a regional need for information on this topic.

Most academic readers (75%) read 'articles of interest' mainly, but 10% read every article. All but one respondent accesses the archives 'often'.

In regard to 'new titles' there was most interest in, in order, a Journal of Public Health, a Journal of Epidemiology and a Journal of Paediatrics. Other journal topics of interest to the region are: Medical Education and Accreditation; Women's health and other issues related to women, Emergency Medicine; Social medicine.

Most academics did not want to see advertising in the journal.

Preferred article types were consistently:
* Original contribution/Clinical investigation
* Review articles
* Education and training
* CME

New topics academic readers would like to see covered include: Medical education research and operational research; Special Education and Evaluation

Consistently readers like the diversity of the topics, the relevance of the topics and the coverage of regional research.

Negative comments were: many wanted 'theme issues' and some wanted a colour cover/image. While the possibility of 'theme issues' will depend on the quality, number and type of articles submitted - we will in future provide a colour cover, but are conscious that this may add a cost to those organisations who print them out for their members so we would like to hear any negative feedback on this point.

Comments ticked in agreeance (top 6 in order):

* I would like an email reminder that there is a new issue out.
* I appreciate that it is a free resource for doctors of the region.
* I would like to see more research
* The MEJFM deals in real medicine relevant to the Middle East region
* I am happy with the publication in its current form
* I would like to see theme issues

Most readers or authors would also like a pdf copy of the individual articles, in addition to the full pdf. This will be instituted from February 2012.

Academic Competencies
As some respondents answered nationally and others for their particular medical school we could not make national assumptions from the data collected. The following is a link to a recent article and survey done on this topic which probably provides a more complex overview. See: www.mejfm.com/July2010/globalcompetencies.htm

Research in the Region
Data showed:
Allocation of research budget to academic institutions has been graded as average to poor
Allocation of qualified personnel was graded as average to good
Most students have free access to online medical databases and a variety of databases are used, and there are no limits on which can be used free in most institutions
Most existing research facilities (computer and other) were graded average.
Most have compulsory research activities for students and most have established guidelines.

Most countries have: Subsidised medicine, Spreading/diffusion of medical insurance and Universal access to medical facilities and most found the focus of their medical school as socially accountable.

National situation
There were widespread shortages of both nurses and GPs/family physicians reported across the region and primary care was undertaken in either hospital outpatients (mostly) or a variety of other locations such as government provided health centres, schools, health houses, industry, armed forces and other.

The percentage of health and medical care provided through primary care was reportedly between 39% (Egypt) and 80% (Iraq).