OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quality of articles and the popularity of Chinese Journal of Pediatrics.

METHODSWith the database of Chinese Science & Technology Journal Citation Reports 2000-2003, the six indicators, including impact factor (IF), total cited numbers, immediate index, ratio of cited numbers by other journals to total cited numbers, number of citing journals, and cited half-life were evaluated and compared with other Chinese periodicals in pediatrics and related subjects. The cited numbers, distribution of cited areas, and cited institutions of published articles in Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2000-2003 were analyzed.

RESULTSFrom 2000 to 2003, the impact factor of the Journal was 0.937, 1.025, 1.052, 1.252, total cited number was 1378, 1468, 1863 and 2396. Immediate index, citing journals, and cited half-life rose steadily, and the ratio of cited numbers by other journals to total cited numbers remained above 0.9. The average cited number of articles was 3.3. The cited authors were from 26 provinces or cities.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese Journal of Pediatrics ranked at the top of Chinese pediatric journals with its highest IF and total cited numbers, which indicates that the journal has explicit editorial aims, stable continuity, and the increased influence in Chinese pediatric research. The stable growth of immediate index, number of citing journals and cited half-life show that the Journal has a high rate of reflection, the articles published in the Journal were paid more attention and have influenced researchers for longer periods and widely. The higher rate of citation by others and lower self-cited rate indicate that the Journal has been rigorous and realistic in editorial practice. The Journal is demonstrated to be one of the main medical core periodicals and one of the most important information sources in the field of pediatrics in China.