In June 2010, the Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports for scientific journals during the previous 2 years were released. The Journal of Athletic Training (JAT) scored 2.478! What does a 2.478 mean, and why is it important? The score means that, on average, each article published in JAT in 2007 and 2008 was cited in other scientific journals approximately 2.5 times in 2009.
But what does 2.478 really mean? This score reflects the advancement of research in athletic training, the evolution of JAT into a highly regarded scientific journal, and, ultimately, the growth of athletic training as a leading health care profession. We were first exposed to Athletic Training: The Journal of the National Athletic Trainers' Association early in our careers. Our predecessors worked hard to develop a journal that was informative and relevant to the members of the association. Today, only 9 sports science journals of the 73 in this category worldwide have higher impact factors, and JAT looks very different than it did even 20 years ago. In those 20 years, JAT has been included in many indexes, including MEDLINE, and has become the official journal of the Taiwan Athletic Trainers' Society and the Japan Athletic Trainers' Organization. These changes reflect the globalization of our profession.
Until 2008, JAT was published quarterly. Today, we review and publish more articles than at any time in our history. Despite being more selective than ever before in accepting articles for publication, we fill 6 issues annually, approximately 80 articles per year. However, the impact factor does not rise with the publication of more articles but rather with the publication of higher-quality articles. We can be proud of this growth in both quantity and quality, which is a testament to our scholarly community. More athletic trainers are engaged in the research essential to advancing athletic training than ever before. The quality of their work is reflected in the success of JAT. The progress of the journal is also due to the work of the largest editorial team in the history of JAT, a team that includes editors, an editorial board, and hundreds of reviewers. To all, we say thank you!
Although it is important to recognize the work of everyone who has contributed to making JAT a leading journal, we also need to take a moment and consider what JAT contributes to our athletic training community. A profession's journal is its window to the world. Broadcast and print media coverage of reports published in JAT educates the public and other health care professionals, recognizes the unique expertise of the athletic trainer, and demonstrates the profession's ongoing commitment to research. Thanks in large part to advances in information technology, patients and providers from all medical disciplines and in all parts of the globe can find the information they seek in JAT. Increasingly, authors from around the world seek to publish their research findings in JAT. We have no stronger vehicle than JAT to promote athletic training and to help others understand the role of the athletic trainer in protecting the health of our patients and encouraging healthy living through exercise.
Not every athletic trainer will publish in JAT, but what is published in JAT affects every athletic trainer. It may be just a number—2.478—but it's a number that every member of the NATA should be proud of and celebrate.
Author notes
Note: Craig R. Denegar, PhD, ATC, PT, FNATA, is the JAT Senior Associate Editor. Christopher D. Ingersoll, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FACSM, is the JAT Editor-in-Chief