Will medical journals be replaced by the Internet?

Although in the near future medical journals are unlikely to be replaced by author-posted papers on the Web, journals will need to adapt to significant changes brought on by widespread access to the Internet. Each of the unique roles of medical journals is subject to different influences from the emerging information super-highway.

Most medical developments reach the profession, the media and the public after appearing in one of the major medical journals. Journals have maintained control over the release of information primarily because a medical journals will only print material not previously published elsewhere. Although presentations at medical meetings are exempt and the press can report on them, this practice remains an effective brake on non-journal reporting of medical developments. The Internet now threatens the medical journals' control over the release of medical news.

Quality control is another major function of medical journals. Prior to publication, the selection and editing of articles by peer review is designed to assure a measure of quality control over research methodology and presentation. As new sources of medical information appear on-line, we will be confronted with masses of medical content of unclear source and quality. Although the Internet will undermine the news function of medical journals, it will greatly enhance their importance as vehicles for peer-review.

Medical journals serve an important role as repositories of information. The cumulative content of journals can be viewed as the collective knowledge of the field. The Internet will enhance this role since the main obstacle to journal use has been the difficulty of access. As reference databases become available online, access to the content of medical journals will be easier.