The impact of open access on citations, Pageviews, and downloads: a scientometric analysis in Postgraduate Medical Journal

Purpose The influence of Open Access (OA) on the citation impact of scholarly articles remains a topic of considerable debate. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between OA publication and citation metrics, as well as article visibility, within the context of the Postgraduate Medical Journal (PMJ). Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 373 articles published in PMJ between 2020 and 2021. Data on OA status, citations, page views, PDF downloads, and other relevant variables were extracted from Journal Citation Reports and PMJ's official website. Multivariable linear regression and other statistical analyses were used to assess the impact of OA on these metrics. Results OA articles (n = 78) demonstrated significantly higher citation counts, page views, and PDF downloads compared with subscription-based articles (n = 295). Specifically, OA articles showed a significant increase in citation frequency with a beta coefficient of 25.08 and a 95% CI of 17.168-32.992 (P < .001). Similarly, OA status was independently associated with increases in page views [beta = 288.636, 95%CI: 177.749-399.524, P < .001] and PDF downloads [beta = 118.966, 95%CI: 86.357-151.575, P < .001]. Strong correlations among total citations, page views, and PDF downloads were observed in both OA and subscription articles. Conclusion The study highlights a significant and independent association of OA publishing with increased citation counts, page views, and PDF downloads in PMJ, suggesting that OA articles have broader reach and greater visibility. Further research, including randomized controlled studies across various journals, is needed to confirm these findings and explore the full impact of OA publishing. Key message 1. What is already known on this topic: Prior research on the impact of Open Access (OA) on scholarly articles has produced mixed results, with some studies indicating a citation advantage for OA articles in various fields, while others found no significant difference. This inconsistency in findings across disciplines highlighted the need for a focused study on the citation impact of OA in specific journals such as the Postgraduate Medical Journal (PMJ). 2. What this study adds: Our study uniquely demonstrates that OA articles in PMJ are associated with significantly higher citation counts, page views, and PDF downloads compared with subscription-based articles. It highlights a notable correlation between OA article visibility (as measured by page views and downloads) and citation counts, thereby enriching the current understanding of the benefits of OA publishing. 3. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: These findings suggest a considerable advantage of OA publishing in increasing the visibility and impact of research. They highlight the potential benefits for journals and policymakers in advocating OA publications and underscore the strategic advantage for researchers in opting for OA to achieve wider dissemination and impact. This study may also serve as a catalyst for further research into the varied effects of OA across different disciplines and journal types.