Letters to the editor published in Peruvian biomedical journals indexed in SciELO-Peru 2006-2013

• Published in: Revista peruana de medicina experimental y salud pública Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 104 - 109
• Main Authors: Montenegro-Idrogo, Juan José, Mejía-Dolores, Jhon William, Chalco-Huamán, Joel L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Peru Instituto Nacional de Salud 01-04-2015
• Subjects: Abstracting and Indexing as Topic - statistics & numerical data; Bibliometrics; Correspondence as Topic; Databases, Bibliographic; investigación biomédica; Periodicals as Topic; Peru; publicaciones; publicaciones científicas y técnicas; Publishing - statistics & numerical data; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1726-4634; 1726-4642
• DOI: 10.17843/rpmesp.2015.321.1582

This bibliometric study describes the characteristics of letters to the editor published between 2006-2013 in biomedical journals indexed in SciELO-Peru.253 letters (10.3% of total publications) were collected. Most letters (139) were in the Peruvian Journal of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, with marked increase throughout those years. 25% of letters submitted included medical student participation. 14% of authors presented with international affiliations and 27% with endogenous affiliation - common in university journals (Anales de la Facultad de Medicina, Revista Médica Herediana).The usual criteria justifying the publication of letters were: opinion of medical fact or public domain (35.6%) and discussion of results, methodological flaws or interpretation (22.9%). In biomedical journals indexed in SciELO Peru the letters to the editor comprise a percentage of publications that has increased in recent years, with low publication of letters of findings or primary data, compared with opinion or criticism.