RESUMO
Online reprint request (ORR) is the standard protocol to obtain the reprints (e-print/hard copy) using the internet (author's e-mail address) when the required literature is not available. The problem of higher cost of surface mail for the author and the reader, as well as the time taken to receive postal reprints, is overcome by ORR. This technique has its limitation in message failure, expiration of mail (e-mail decay), or journal not providing author's e-mail address. This article analyzes the available practical solution to overcome these barriers. This process facilitates the exchange of scientific information. In e-mail decay, reprint request can be sent in the following order: a) search and send to author's latest e-mail address, b) co-author's latest or affiliated institution's e-mail address, c) postal reprint request providing the requestor's e-mail address. This protocol can be practiced when library facilities or required literature is not available. Literature can be pooled and used for residency teaching programs, like group discussions, journal clubs, and e-learning exercises (teleeducation), to update the recent advances for practice and research.
Assuntos
Correio Eletrônico/tendências , Internet/tendências , Publicações Periódicas como Assunto/tendências , Leitura , Correio Eletrônico/normas , Correio Eletrônico/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Serviços de Informação/normas , Serviços de Informação/estatística & dados numéricos , Serviços de Informação/tendências , Internet/normas , Internet/estatística & dados numéricos , Publicações Periódicas como Assunto/normas , Publicações Periódicas como Assunto/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Some 19 201 leprosy-related articles were identified in the Medline database for the period 1950-2007. These were analysed for distribution and evolution of a number of variables: publication years, languages, document types, journals, authors, major aspects and countries involved, and author addresses. Next to a number of tables presenting the actual results, some noteworthy trends and possible pitfalls in the interpretation of these results are discussed. The analysis shows that the number of leprosy-related articles peaked in the 1980s and has been in decline ever since, as well in absolute as in relative numbers. Coverage of non-English language literature has decreased far more strongly than that of English language articles. The scholarly input of a number of countries where the leprosy burden is the highest, such as India and Brazil, is clearly visible in the distribution of journals, authors, and for some, language, but this is certainly not the case for all countries afflicted.