@Article{info:doi/10.2196/34051,
author="Kudlow, Paul
and Brown, Tashauna
and Eysenbach, Gunther",
title="Citation Advantage of Promoted Articles in a Cross-Publisher Distribution Platform: 36-Month Follow-up to a Randomized Controlled Trial",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2021",
month="Dec",
day="10",
volume="23",
number="12",
pages="e34051",
keywords="knowledge translation; knowledge; dissemination; digital knowledge translation; digital publishing; e-publishing; open access; scientometrics; infometrics",
abstract="Background: There are limited evidence-based strategies that have been shown to increase the rate at which peer-reviewed articles are cited. In a previously reported randomized controlled trial, we demonstrated that promotion of article links in an online cross-publisher distribution platform (TrendMD) persistently augments citation rates after 12 months, leading to a statistically significant 50{\%} increase in citations relative to the control. Objective: This study aims to investigate if the citation advantage of promoted articles upholds after 36 months. Methods: A total of 3200 published articles in 64 peer-reviewed journals across 8 subject areas were block randomized at the subject level to either the TrendMD group (n=1600) or the control group (n=1600) of the study. Articles were promoted in the TrendMD Network for 6 months. We compared the citation rates in both groups after 36 months. Results: At 36 months, we found the citation advantage endured; articles randomized to TrendMD showed a 28{\%} increase in mean citations relative to the control. The difference in mean citations at 36 months for articles randomized to TrendMD versus the control was 10.52 (95{\%} CI 3.79-17.25) and was statistically significant (P=.001). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate how a postpublication article promotion intervention can be used to persistently augment citations of peer-reviewed articles. TrendMD is an efficient digital tool for knowledge translation and dissemination to targeted audiences to facilitate the uptake of research. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/34051",
url="https://www.jmir.org/2021/12/e34051",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/34051",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34890350"
}