The Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995) in medical literature: a 32-year scientometric review of the Croatian Medical Journal

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the scientometric characteristics of articles related to the Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995) published in the Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ) by analyzing citation trends and identifying key contributions to medical and societal research during and after the War (1991–2024).

Methods: We manually identified war-related articles from the CMJ website and screened them based on their titles and abstracts. We then retrieved their citation data using the Clarivate Web of Science and analyzed their citation metrics, journal impact factors (IF), and quartiles. Articles were categorized by research focus, publication type, and citation frequency.

Results: CMJ published 301 war-related articles, most of which appeared in 1992. They acquired 2,544 citations, primarily in Web of Science-indexed journals, with 68.9% of citations occurring in international journals. The majority of citations were from journals in the third quartile (32.4%), with only 2.3% occurring in top-tier journals (IF > 10). Key research topics included the psychological impacts of war (e.g., PTSD), public health, and healthcare system reorganization. Articles on secondary traumatic stress in war veterans’ families, systematic rape during the war, and advancements in forensic DNA analysis were among the most cited articles, with individual citation counts of 78, 76, and 73, respectively.

Conclusion: CMJ played an important role in documenting the medical and societal impacts of the War of Independence, advancing knowledge on psychological trauma, healthcare organization during the war, and human rights issues. Despite modest representation in high-impact journals, the articles made visible contributions to global discussions on war-related health research. CMJ’s innovative editorial policies, including its author-supportive pre-review process, fostered excellent research during and after the war. This analysis emphasizes the importance of CMJ in addressing the multifaceted consequences of the war, both as a platform for scholarly collaboration and as a repository of historical and educational value.