Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (APM) continues its mission to evolve into a globally respected journal by striving for inclusion in prestigious international databases. As the official journal of the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists and its associated societies, we are thrilled to announce that APM has been newly included in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). This achievement reflects our ongoing dedication to enhancing the quality of research published in our journal and broadening the global impact of our authors’ work.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ESCI INDEXING
The ESCI, which is part of Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection, represents a gateway to greater visibility and credibility in the scientific community. Journals indexed in ESCI meet high standards of publishing, ensuring that the quality of research is globally recognized. By being indexed in ESCI, APM will benefit from increased visibility and citation potential, contributing to the journal’s growing reputation. This will also strengthen the credibility of the research we publish, as it becomes part of a globally recognized index used by academics and professionals in various fields.
BUILDING ON SUCCESS: THE ROAD TO GLOBALIZATION
Since APM transitioned to an English-language journal in 2019 and its inclusion in PubMed Central, we have seen a significant increase in the number of international submissions and the diversity of topics covered in our articles. Under the strategic leadership of Professor Hyun Kang, who took on the role of Editor-in-Chief in 2023, APM achieved a significant milestone by being indexed in Scopus in 2023, further expanding the journal’s international footprint.
In addition to these achievements, APM has been proactive in adapting to the evolving publishing landscape [
1]. In response to rapidly evolving modern publishing practices, APM swiftly introduced a comprehensive preprint policy in January 2023. This policy reflects APM’s goal of providing timely access to cutting-edge research while also ensuring the rigor of peer review. By embracing preprint submissions, APM has not only accelerated the dissemination of scientific knowledge, but has also increased the visibility and credibility of published articles through our peer review process.
To further bolster APM’s impact, we have undertaken various efforts to increase citation rates. These include encouraging submissions of high-impact research, collaborating with international scholars, and organizing special issues on emerging topics that attract a global readership. Additionally, our editorial board has actively promoted the journal at international conferences and academic gatherings, reinforcing its growing reputation.
For instance, our most downloaded article, “
Predictors of Fluid Responsiveness in the Operating Room: A Narrative Review” [
2] (883 downloads as of September 20, 2024), and our most-cited article, “
Remimazolam: Pharmacological Characteristics and Clinical Applications in Anesthesiology” [
3] (cited 103 times as of September 20, 2024), underscore the high quality and relevance of the research published in APM. Additionally, “
Herpes Zoster After COVID-19 Vaccination: Aspect of Pain Medicine: A Retrospective, Single-Center Study” [
4] received the Korean Science and Technology Outstanding Paper Award in 2024. These articles illustrate APM’s dedication to advancing the field and expanding its impact on the global research community.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
None of this progress would have been possible without the hard work of our editorial team, reviewers, and the authors who submitted their manuscripts. We are deeply grateful for the support we have received and look forward to continuing our collaboration with researchers, clinicians, and academic professionals in the global anesthesia community.
While our inclusion in ESCI is a major milestone, it is only the beginning of APM's continued journey toward greater academic excellence. We remain committed to expanding our global editorial board by inviting renowned international experts to join our review and editorial teams. Additionally, Special Issues focusing on cutting-edge research and critical developments in anesthesiology will further enhance the journal’s content, attracting a broader readership.
In alignment with our goals for globalization, we are also dedicated to improving our journal’s digital presence. Upcoming revisions to our website and e-submission systems will streamline the submission process and offer authors more transparent tracking of their manuscripts. These advancements will support our efforts to make APM a seamless, author-friendly journal for researchers around the world. Moreover, as we continue to build on our progress, we are dedicated to pursuing inclusion in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) as a key objective, advancing APM's impact and recognition within the global research community.