A medical journal is a
peer-review
Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer revie ...
ed
scientific journal that communicates
medical information to
physicians
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
, other
health professionals. Journals that cover many medical specialties are sometimes called
general medical journals.
History
The first medical journals were general medical journals, and were established in the late 18th century;
specialty-specific medical journals were first introduced in the early 20th century.
The first medical journal to be published in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
was '' Medical Essays and Observations'', established in 1731 and published in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
; the first to be published in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
was ''
The Medical Repository'', established in 1797.
Criticisms
Richard Smith, the former editor of the medical journal ''
the BMJ'', has been critical of many of the aspects of modern-day medical journal publishing.
See also
* List of medical journals
* Academic journal
An academic journal or scholarly journal is a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as permanent and transparent forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and ...
References
{{Reflist
Medical journal
Medical literature