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Video abstracts are associated with an increase in research reports citations, views and social attention: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Video abstracts have been proposed as a tool to disseminate research through to social networks. However, its association with metrics of research dissemination has not been adequately investigated, particularly in the field of medical research. The aim of this study was to assess the association between video abstracts and citations, views and Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) of research papers. A cross-sectional study of research reports published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) over a 3-year period was conducted. An inverse binomial regression was used to assess factors associated with citations, views and AAS. The model included the presence of video abstracts as well as other independent covariables as potential confounding factors. 500 research reports were included in the analysis and 152 benefited from a video abstract. The median time from publication was 3.0 (2.2 to 3.6) years and 72% were RCTs. Research reports published with a video abstract were associated with an increase in citations (IRR 1.15), although this estimate came with uncertainty ranging from virtually no effect to a worthwhile effect (95% CI 0.98 to 1.35). There were also associated with a worthwhile increase in views (IRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.54) as well as with an increase in AAS (IRR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.44). To conclude, video abstracts are associated with a worthwhile increase in the number of views of research reports. They are also associated with an increase in citations and social attention, although the association may be small.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by ADIR Association.

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TB, AR, JL, LS, MOF has made substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; TB, AR. has drafted the submitted article or revised it critically for important intellectual content; TB, AR, FEG, JL, LS, JFM, AC, MOF. has provided final approval of the version to be published; TB, AR, FEG, JL, LS, JFM, AC, MOF has agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Tristan Bonnevie.

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Tristan BONNEVIE declares receiving grants from Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, personal fee from Asten Santé and other from KerNel Biomedical, unrelated to this study. None of the other authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.

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Bonnevie, T., Repel, A., Gravier, FE. et al. Video abstracts are associated with an increase in research reports citations, views and social attention: a cross-sectional study. Scientometrics 128, 3001–3015 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-023-04675-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-023-04675-9

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