On-line journal aids wound providers at the click of a mouse
February 1, 1998 5 minutes read
On-line journal aids wound providers at the click of a mouse
Brit journal aims for good practice, communication
Sure, the Internet provides a smattering of sites on the World Wide Web related to wound care, and some contain a lot of useful information. But only one site can claim the status of a full-fledged wound care journal whose contents flow from researchers around the globe and to which access costs nothing.World Wide Wounds, the Electronic Journal of Wound Management Practice, is described by editor Andrew Heenan as an independent journal dedicated to promoting good practice and better communication in the specialty.
The journal is published by Surgical Materials Testing Laboratories (SMTL) in Bridgend, Wales, U.K. SMTL is a not-for-profit organization that has maintained its independence from the health care industry while simultaneously conducting research-oriented projects with international health care companies.
SMTL’s director, Stephen Thomas, MD, and deputy director, Peter Phillips, had discussed the need to put quality wound management information on the Web some time ago, says Heenan. At the time, SMTL operated its own Web site, which reported on and promoted SMTL’s activities. While editing a conventional medical journal, Heenan first made contact with Thomas and Phillips after reading The Dressing Times, a low-budget paper journal published by SMTL. The on-line journal was developed when SMTL saw an opportunity to experiment with a new format for wound care communication.
"We could see that [putting a journal on line] was a rapid, cost-effective way of disseminating information, and a means of communication that was truly international and available to large numbers of people," Heenan says.
No paper means fewer boundaries
Because the journal does not have a paper equivalent, planning it meant that the editors had to break some of the norms associated with conventional journal publication — and had to invent a few of their own.The cover page shows the titles of the five most recent articles, along with a brief description of each one’s contents. A click of the mouse on a title takes the reader directly to the full text of the article. New articles get pride of place, but older articles remain available, says Heenan. As new articles are posted, the older ones slip off the cover page, but all retain a distinct Internet address and remain easily accessible.
A "More Articles" link hooks into a listing of all of the articles ever published in the journal. Similar links are handy for readers’ questions, journal abstracts, and other departments. Readers can quickly search the entire contents of the journal — past and present — by key words, authors, or topics.
There is no issue publication date associated with a particular article, but an article can be dated (and therefore cited in other papers, for example) by its original posting date.
The interactive nature of the on-line publishing world allows readers to point out errors and authors to update information almost immediately. "We can publish a revised edition tomorrow," says Heenan, adding that the process takes some getting used to for one who is grounded in paper-based publishing.
From the time of World Wide Wound’s launch in July 1997, Heenan knew he would have to take a new approach to journal production. This journal without a binding allowed for tremendous flexibility, but also brought some constraints.
"We decided from the outset that if we were to be in this business for a long time, we needed to start without all the preconceived expectations of a paper journal," he says. "We do not have contracts with printers and distributors, so we have no deadlines in the traditional sense. If we have two articles on Tuesday, we do not have to choose which to publish or which to hold back. We have the freedom to publish both or neither. If we have no articles submitted next week, that’s a shame, but not a disaster."
Nor is Heenan obligated to pen a monthly editorial. Instead, he writes one when he has something to say. "And the world can read it before I have time to regret it," he adds.
In addition to the speed with which the journal can be put out, another advantage is the low cost. "We can produce a mine of useful information without the horrendous overhead costs of printing and distribution," Heenan explains. The lack of a substantial financial burden is shared by readers, who have free and unlimited access to the journal, save for the cost of hooking up to the Internet. "I believe it should stay that way," Heenan says. "That takes the pressure of competition away. I believe the Web complements the paper journals and will for many years. If we were fighting for the same dollar, both sides would suffer and so would the reader."
One unanticipated problem, says Heenan, is that people are not used to finding high-quality research papers on the Web. "Most of the professional sites are commercial in nature, and the quality does vary," he says.
For the same reasons, many authors have hesitated in committing their work to the new format. "Who can blame them? It’s a chicken-and-egg situation. As some take the risk, it becomes more acceptable. But that is also true of new paper journals. I had the same experience with my previous wound care publication," he says.
A European disposition
Most of the journal’s submissions have come from British and European authors, though Heenan hopes the inflow from abroad will increase. Wound care is a rapidly growing specialty in the U.K., as it is in the United States, but there are notable differences in practice between the countries. For instance, terminology varies greatly, according to Heenan. "Probably half my mailbag is from U.S. readers raising issues or querying U.K. methods and materials. So I’m gradually getting to grips with the problem of dealing with very different health care cultures. Despite the differences, the common ground is immense, but I expect to depend on advisors with local knowledge for many years yet. Once we start to get a more substantial U.S. input, I think readers will benefit on both sides of the pond."The journal’s future appears bright. After more than six months of publication, Heenan no longer feels like he is "walking the plank blindfolded." Much of the direction has come from readers, whose on-line interaction allows for quick adjustments. "Luckily," Heenan says, "I have a good sense of direction, and I think I am beginning to see a kind of a consensus in what people want, so planning has gotten easier, even though the size of the task seems to grow. One of the joys of the Internet is that people really do want to help, and as response times are so quick, they can."
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